Chiefs of staff shuffle follows federal cabinet change-ups
At the same time as the five Liberal cabinet ministers affected by last week’s shuffle were moving into new offices, so too were a number of chiefs of staff, with three such moves confirmed. Tim Powers, vice-chairman of Summa Strategies, said chief of staff changes after a cabinet shuffle are “really not that unusual,” noting […]
Unions praise Brison, optimistic about ‘results-oriented’ Philpott heading Treasury Board
Newly minted Treasury Board President Jane Philpott will have big shoes to fill following Scott Brison’s tenure, say public service observers, but they seem confident she is up to the task. Ms. Philpott (Markham-Stouffville, Ont.) was named to the job in a cabinet shuffle Jan. 14, following Mr. Brison’s (Kings-Hants, N.S.) resignation from cabinet and […]
Public service in mourning in wake of deadly Ottawa bus crash
Three public servants are dead, at least one was seriously injured, and nine Department of National Defence employees and Armed Forces members were on the Ottawa city bus that crashed Jan. 11, yet the government isn’t confirming how many federal employees overall were directly involved. The crash happened shortly before the afternoon rush hour on […]
PSAC declares bargaining impasse, calls for commission as prelude to potential strike vote
The largest public sector union is one step closer to strike action for four groups representing 90,000 public servants, after declaring a bargaining impasse over the government’s latest contract offer. In response to the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s (PSAC) opening proposal of a 3.75 per cent raise in October, Treasury Board countered with a […]
‘It’s our workplace and our home,’ Parliamentarians to be consulted on massive renovations to iconic Centre Block over next decade
House Speaker Geoff Regan and other officials in charge of the Centre Block building’s renovation say Parliamentarians will be consulted on the design of the building, but a formal structure for such consultations has yet to be figured out as the iconic building closes for more than a decade. Members of the Procedure and House Affairs […]
Former Treasury Board secretary appointed Carleton chancellor, calls career path the ‘story of a lifetime’
Becoming the chancellor of Carleton University is something former Treasury Board secretary Yaprak Baltacioglu says she never expected, but for the university alumna, it’s a coming home of sorts, and a way to continue making a difference in her post-public service life. Carleton called Ms. Baltacioglu weeks ago asking her to become the university’s ceremonial head. The […]
Feds’ opening offer in contract talks an ‘insult,’ would put 90,000 bureaucrats in a virtual wage freeze: PSAC
The government’s initial offer to four of the core public service groups currently negotiating new contracts is an “insult” that would put them in a virtual two-year wage freeze, says Public Service Alliance of Canada national president Chris Aylward. PSAC has asked for a 3.75 per cent raise, and while the 0.75 per cent economic increase […]
Federal departments miss quarter of annual targets: results report
About 24 per cent of government programs tracked at the departmental level missed their performance targets in 2017-18, according to annual results reports released in November, up from about 16 per cent last year. Eleven departments or agencies missed more than 40 per cent of their targets, including Infrastructure Canada (72 per cent), the Royal […]
PSAC asks for 3.75 per cent pay hike, as contract talks kick into high gear
The largest federal public service union is asking for a 3.75 per cent annual raise for its four largest bargaining groups as it negotiates a new three-year contract with the government—more than their opening bid in the last round of contract talks. In 2014, the Public Service Alliance of Canada asked for a three per […]
Procedure and House Affairs Committee proposes changes to e-petition system
Canadians should have the ability to flag issues in the House of Commons faster when they start petitions online, but getting thousands of signatures won’t make the Chamber take up their cause, according to a House committee’s review of the e-petition system. In a report tabled Nov. 8 by Liberal chair Larry Bagnell (Yukon), the […]
