Too much tax hurts tech sector
Canada is on the cusp of the Fourth Industrial Revolution with the emergence of the biotechnology industry. This revolution, where digital processes and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the way products are made, is also coming at a time when Canada is experiencing a brain drain in our tech sector. A study published earlier this […]
Senators, opposition MPs await Liberal response to ‘common sense’ changes to anti-harassment bill
Opposition parties say they’re ready to accept changes the Senate made to a bill aimed at preventing and handling workplace violence and sexual harassment, calling them “common sense,” however the government is mum on its next steps. The Senate passed Bill C-65 on June 18 with seven amendments stemming from its Human Rights Committee, with […]
From staffer to minister: the rise of Mary Ng
Despite claims of favouritism levelled by opponents, Mary Ng says it’s her 20 years of government and political experience that propelled her to the Liberals’ front bench in the 16 months between her election to the House of Commons and her cabinet appointment. “What you get is you get a grounding—you get a grounding in […]
Pay-related grievances at labour relations board triple post-Phoenix
The number of pay-related complaints at the federal bureaucrats’ labour relations board has dropped from its 2016-17 peak, but the number of grievances for the past two fiscal years is at least three times higher than before the Phoenix pay system was launched. In the 2017-18 fiscal year, which ran from April 1, 2017, to […]
PIPSC election candidates allege union committee censored their bios
As the national election campaign for the second-largest federal public service union heats up, at least two candidates are alleging they have been censored by the union’s elections committee. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, which represents 57,000 government IT workers, scientists, and other professionals, will hold its national election on Nov. […]
Minister Bibeau’s Sierra Leone visit highlights need to invest in quality education
This past Saturday, Sept. 8, International Literacy Day was celebrated around the world with the theme ‘literacy and skills development,’ reminding us all that literacy is a fundamental human right essential for human capital development and the creation of equitable and sustainable societies. It also reminds us that literacy—long recognized as a lever to attain […]
Canada’s research stars should get a shot at same funding as foreign scholars
Outstanding scholars in diverse fields are entering the Canadian academic community from abroad thanks to the Canada 150 Chairs initiative, a $117.6-million program first announced in the federal budget a year ago. Talented researchers from New England to New Zealand have taken up newly created positions in Canadian universities from coast to coast. The Canada […]
Bureaucrats on the move: ESDC DM leaves, feds get new chief HR officer
The highly respected deputy minister of Employment and Social Development Canada is leaving to become Canada’s representative at the International Monetary Fund. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) announced on Aug. 31 that Louise Levonian, who has been in her current role since May 2016, was recently nominated by Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, […]
Feds to decide on next pay system in spring, says official in charge
The government is set to decide on how to replace the problem-plagued Phoenix pay system in the spring, with a new procurement process that could see the system purchase made by then, if need be, according to Canada’s chief information officer, who is tasked with coming up with it. Alex Benay said no pay-system option […]
What about the quality of the jobs, Minister Hajdu?
Dear minister of employment, workforce development and labour, I have been hearing how this government has created thousands of new jobs across Canada, and I have a relatively simple question for you: how many of these new jobs of which you boast have company pensions attached to them, medical and dental coverage, or even vacation […]
