Lingering Phoenix issues ‘no surprise’ to union leaders, as annual survey shows increase in pay problems
With the percentage of federal bureaucrats who say they’ve had pay problems thanks to Phoenix on the rise, the leaders of the largest federal public service unions say they’re not surprised, but also “not hopeful” there’s any end in sight. The problem-plagued Phoenix pay system continues to be an issue among respondents to the annual […]
In a world of increasing disparity, it is time for new leaders to come forward
OTTAWA—The passing of former cabinet minister John Crosbie has been the opportunity for much nostalgia, especially among those who knew him best. My sympathies to his family and friends, who were legion: he was both a great Newfoundlander and a great Canadian. I had the opportunity to interview Crosbie on a few occasions; what I […]
‘We’re flying the plane while we build it’: demolition work in Centre Block has begun
A final budget and timeline for the renovation of the iconic Centre Block building have yet to be determined, but work is plowing ahead, with demolition underway from the fourth floor up, which will see those floors stripped down to the building’s bones. “With these kinds of projects, we’re flying the plane while we build […]
‘Still a mess, still needs a lot of work’: Shared Services Canada gets new master under digital government minister
With the responsibility for Shared Services Canada now squarely under Minister of Digital Government Joyce Murray, PIPSC president Debi Daviau says the move seems like “a natural progression towards trying to get a handle on the government of Canada’s IT systems, which everybody knows could really use the attention.” “From my perspective, overall what Shared […]
Public servants still waiting to engage with public service renewal parl sec
More than a month after the prime minister announced Omar Alghabra as his parliamentary secretary for public service renewal, leaders from two of Canada’s larger federal public service unions are still entirely in the dark about the MP’s role and what it means for bureaucrats. Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) president Greg Phillips—whose union […]
‘He has a lot of work to do’: elusive collective agreement, Phoenix damages loom large for new Treasury Board president
As Canada’s largest federal public sector union remains without a new collective agreement, PSAC national president Chris Aylward says newly appointed Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos “has a lot of work to do” with 140,000 public sector workers still without a contract. But Canada’s former top bureaucrat suggests Mr. Duclos may be a “bit of […]
‘The tail doesn’t wag the dog’: PSAC wants a deal of its own amid ongoing negotiations
In its ongoing push for new collective agreements, the Public Service Alliance of Canada remains committed to reaching an agreement with the government that doesn’t simply “replicate what other federal public administration bargaining agents have negotiated,” according to their submission to the Public Interest Commission. Most of the collective agreements for affected Public Service Alliance […]
Rookie PSPC minister a ‘calculated risk’ as a cabinet pick, say observers
The prime minister took a risk when he put a rookie Liberal MP in charge of the government’s decisions around procurement, but the Oakville MP seems to be up to the task, given her professional chops, some political observers say. During the Nov. 20 cabinet unveiling, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) named Anita Anand […]
Parliament security labour standoff nearing end of the road
As Parliament returns, MPs new and old may notice House of Commons security officers are still donning personal baseball caps and small white patches as part of a labour dispute that’s been ongoing since 2017—but an end is soon in sight. On Oct. 23, the Federal Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) issued […]
Continuing to champion ‘resilient digital government’ could be greatest legacy of new minister, says expert
Given the scope and complexity of the challenges surrounding the development of a resilient digital government, one expert says that realistically, “it does need to be someone’s job that they wake up to every morning and are focused on.” Following the Oct. 21 election that saw the Liberals returned to government in a minority Parliament, […]
