Union pans $2.6-billion public-private contract to modernize federal heating, cooling
Private-sector consortium Innovate Energy has been awarded a $2.6-billion, 35-year contract by the government of Canada to modernize and operate heating and cooling facilities in the National Capital Region. But the largest federal public service unions are crying foul, saying public-private partnerships “regularly fail.” The current system connects more than 80 buildings in Ottawa and […]
Public servants, feds inch closer to contracts with tentative agreements before election
A growing number of federal public service unions have made significant progress in their negotiations with the government, with many securing tentative agreements around wage increases and restitution from the problem-plagued Phoenix pay system. Bargaining units within the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, representing scientists and professionals, have reached tentative agreements with […]
Feds, Irving need to clean up their act and find a better PR move than threatening reporters
OTTAWA—Last week the Globe and Mail broke the story about Irving Shipbuilding being allowed to claim a $40-million industrial benefit for a french fry factory as part of a contract to build navy ships. As odd as this might sound, that was not the bizarre part of this news story. Shortly after the Globe and […]
Phoenix, defence procurement disasters have a lot in common
According to the CBC, there are now five companies vying for the contract to replace the failed Phoenix pay system. From where I sit, the renewed effort looks more and more like yet another disaster in the offing that will rank among the fiascos that have become the hallmark of Canada’s ‘ugly’ defence procurement systems. What’s the difference […]
Remains of old barracks, guardhouse focus of ‘significant’ archaeological dig on Parliament Hill
Two “significant” archaeological digs are ongoing east of the Centre Block building, focused on the remains of an old barracks building and a guardhouse that at one point served as Bytown’s first and only jail, uncovered ahead of the official start of renovations on Parliament Hill’s centrepiece building. “We found some interesting things. So, right […]
‘Unprecedented’ technical challenge to Centre Block renos means losing familiar spaces, says PSPC
Although the hope is that when Centre Block reopens after years of renovation work it will look as similar as possible to before it shut its doors, there will be some significant changes, Senators were told recently. The necessary upgrades to bring the historic Parliament Hill centrepiece into the 21st century will require losing a […]
Public servants concerned by ‘insulting’ Phoenix damages deal, worried claims process could be emotionally taxing
Some public servants are reacting strongly to the news the government struck a tentative deal with most unions on the Phoenix damages, saying they are concerned about the amount of leave proposed and are worried the claims process will be emotionally taxing on public servants who have already dealt with the pay nightmare for three […]
Tentative Phoenix deal reached, but PSAC rejects feds’ offer
After two years of negotiations, the government and 16 federal public sector unions have reached a tentative deal to compensate bureaucrats for the problem-plagued Phoenix pay system. However, the government’s offer was rejected by the largest union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada. The Phoenix pay system was supposed to streamline pay, but instead, public […]
Tax changes in budget bill to alleviate Phoenix overpayment burden
Long-awaited tax changes to help federal employees saddled with the unusual problem of getting paid too much thanks to the problem-plagued Phoenix payroll system have made it into legislation—a year after the government first signalled help was on the way. Among the dozens of statutes affected by Bill C-97—the Liberals’ final budget implementation bill of […]
First female foreign affairs DM among several women promoted in latest civil service shuffle
The prime minister has appointed the first female deputy minister of foreign affairs, and is moving a top-level female Indigenous deputy minister as part of a number of recent executive-level public service staff changes promoting women. Marta Morgan is set to move from heading Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to being Canada’s first female deputy […]
