Bigger proportion of federal public service goes temp, according to PCO report
The Privy Council clerk’s annual report to the prime minister on the public service shows growth of about one per cent in the core public service between 2015 and 2016, but fewer people employed on a permanent basis. It said there were 258,979 public servants at the end of the 2015-16 fiscal year in March […]
Unions hopeful Phoenix ministerial working group gets results
Federal public service union leaders are hopeful but skeptical about the progress that can be made with a new committee, comprised primarily of cabinet ministers, created to deal with ongoing problems of the disastrous Phoenix pay system. Late last month, almost a full year after the bulk of federal public servants became dependent on the problematic […]
Phoenix: PSAC chief’s ‘don’t forgive’ argument weakens union
HAMILTON, ONT.—Call me a pious prig for saying it, but Public Service Alliance of Canada national president Robyn Benson’s charge to her members over the Phoenix payroll debacle, “Don’t forgive them, and don’t forget,” is at the heart of why unions in Canada are in decline. This might seem counterintuitive. Union density in the public sector […]
‘Don’t forgive them and don’t forget,’ PSAC leader says Phoenix could be 2019 election issue
The head of the biggest federal public service union in the country says the Phoenix pay system problems, which haven’t gone away yet, could end up being an election issue in 2019, particularly for Liberals in the National Capital Region, where many public servants reside. “It would not surprise me that this would be an […]
West Block’s interim House Chamber takes shape as Hill construction continues
PARLIAMENT HILL—The interim House of Commons Chamber being built in the West Block’s courtyard is taking shape with concrete being poured to form the visitors’ galleries and about 60 per cent of the glass roof now installed. “The pouring of the gallery floor started Monday [April 17] and is scheduled for completion in the first […]
This just in: Liberals hiring political staffers for ministers’ regional offices
The Liberal government has hired a number of political staffers to work in regional ministers’ offices across the country in recent months, including five new regional managers, and there are plans to hire more. Previously, under the Harper Conservative government various cabinet ministers were appointed to also serve as regional ministers, with 14 in all. Correspondingly, ministers’ […]
Access to information reform could compromise ‘quality of decision making’: ex-PCO chief
One of the Liberal government’s plans to make ministers’ offices more transparent could undermine the quality of advice public servants provide to their ministers if not executed carefully, says a former head of the public service. Opening up ministers’ offices and the Prime Minister’s Office to access to information requests, as the Liberals have promised, […]
Feds expect to roll out findings of internal review on Phoenix pay system this summer
Senior-level officials who are responsible for Public Services and Procurement Canada’s problem-plagued Phoenix pay system will find out this summer if they will be receiving performance pay for the time leading up to Phoenix’s rollout, but they are on track to take home similar benefits for this past fiscal year, despite still having 284,000 pay transactions behind […]
Supporters of national portrait gallery at 100 Wellington St. ramp up advocacy
The federal government will announce a new public use for the old U.S. Embassy building at 100 Wellington St. later this year, and as it considers options, advocates of a plan to turn it into a national portrait gallery are ramping up their efforts. “This is a wonderful opportunity to create something of excellence for […]
Budget criticized for lack of public-service investment, no Phoenix fix
“Meh,” was how one public service union leader reacted after the federal government’s budget was unveiled last week, though there were positive reviews coming from educational interest groups, mixed reaction from the health sector, and a range of other assessments from those who had some interests riding on this federal budget. Chris Aylward, national executive […]
