Our History | Our Goals | Our Board and Directors
Download our information brochure for more information. (PDF)
Our History
The founding President of Canadians for Accountability is Allan Cutler, well known for his role in exposing the Sponsorship Scandal. After retirement, he was approached by other whistleblowers looking for support and advice.
Although his own ordeal was over by early 2007, Allan saw the need to create a group to support whistleblowers in all sectors – government, business and volunteer. He gathered a few local whistleblowers for dinner meetings at local restaurants. By Christmas 2007, the meetings had become semi-formal, and the work to begin incorporation was started.
In June 2008, Canadians for Accountability was incorporated as a non-profit organization. Elections were held in the limited membership to select a president, Vice-president, Treasurer, Secretary and other directors.
Canadians for Accountability now seeks to expand its membership and obtain secure funding to allow it to take a more active role in assisting whistleblowers.
Our Objectives
The objectives of Canadians for Accountability are:
- To assist whistleblower through education, social support and non-legal advice,
- To educate Canadians on the subject of whistleblowing, healthy workplaces and ethics,
- To promote an understanding of whistleblowing: what it is, the dynamics, the culture, mechanisms and solutions,
- To promote public awareness of the importance and value of whistleblowing in the Canadian context, including labour unions, senior management and employees, and
- To promote a culture of truth, transparency and integrity in Canada’s public and private sector institutions and Canadian society in general.
Our Board and Directors
Board
Canadians for Accountability currently has eight directors, including the President, the Managing Director, two Vice-presidents, and Secretary/Treasurer.
Allan Cutler: President
Allan is a senior procurement manager with a record of over 30 years in contracting and has managed multi-million dollar complex and sensitive procurements. He spent much his career at Public Works and Government Services Canada and is now an independent consultant. He is well known for exposing the abuses of the Sponsorship Scandal. You can find more information on his web site at http://ascutler.com/. To contact Allan Cutler directly, email allan.cutler@canadians4accountability.org.
Ian Bron: Managing Director
Ian is an evaluation and regulatory specialist working in the federal government. He spent a number of years as a naval officer, following which he was an elementary school teacher. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Bachelor and Masters degree in Education from the University of Ottawa. He is also a professional teacher (OCT). He is a whistleblower who reported serious mismanagement, unethical conduct and harassment at Transport Canada. You can find more information on his web site at http://www.ianbron.com. To contact Ian Bron directly, email ian.bron@canadians4accountability.org.
Bruce Ricketts: Vice-president
Bruce is a technology entrepreneur based in Ottawa with business experience in most parts of the world. He is a medical scientist by education and a technology innovator by vocation. He is a Canadian historian and author as well as a frequent public speaker on Canadian political and historical issues. You can find more information on his web site at http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com. To contact Bruce Ricketts directly, email bruce.ricketts@canadians4accountability.org.
Sean Bruyea: Vice-president
Captain Sean Bruyea, retired, is one of Canada’s leading advocates for the rights of injured Canadian Forces members, disabled veterans and their families. He is recognized as a “go-to” resource by Canada’s media and appears frequently on TV, Radio and in print, always standing up for the concerns of Canada’s serving soldiers, veterans and their families. You can find more information on his web site at http://www.seanbruyea.com/. To contact Sean Bruyea directly, email sean.bruyea@canadians4accountability.org
Walter Hughes: Secretary/Treasurer
Walter Hughes retired from the Public Service of Canada in 2011 after nearly 33 years of public service. Joining the federal government in 1978, he worked first for the Department of Regional Economic Expansion out of Moncton, N.B. Since 1983, Walter worked for the Department now known as Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Walter had various assignments including in London, Hanoi, The Hague and Chicago. Walter is married to Petra Nortier and they have two daughters. To contact Walter Hughes directly, email walter.hughes@canadians4accountability.org
Michael Dagg: Director, Access to Information
Michael Dagg is a founding member of Canadians for Accountability and the principle consultant with Michael A Dagg Associates. This firm has provided clients with key market research data on the multi-billion dollar federal public sector market since 1982. Mr. Dagg obtained his BA at Carleton University in 1969 and completed his Masters in Library Sciences at McGill University in 1971. He has been a pioneer in the development of business uses of access to information and freedom of information legislation in Canada. In 1997 he won a landmark Supreme Court case which enhanced the disclosure of government records. He has been an active board member of the Canadian Access and Privacy Association for almost 20 years. He established the Dagg Lecture Series on Bureaucracy in 2007. In 2007 he established the Canada-China friendship awards, arising from his work with the Ottawa Chinese Canadian Heritage Centre and the Ottawa Chinese Canadian Heritage Foundation. To contact Michael Dagg directly, email michael.dagg@canadians4accountability.org
Other Positions
Leo Lehtiniemi: Special Advisor
Imme Gerke: Special Advisor
Created: September 11, 2008 / Last update: April 6, 2012
