Wednesday, November 5, 2025

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Public Service

News | BY MARLO GLASS | November 4, 2025 | UPDATED November 4, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne called on most departments to achieve 15-per-cent cuts in the next three years, and his first budget offers a window as to how federal organizations are responding to his directive. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | November 4, 2025 | UPDATED November 4, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | November 4, 2025 | UPDATED November 4, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne called on most departments to achieve 15-per-cent cuts in the next three years, and his first budget offers a window as to how federal organizations are responding to his directive. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY RAM MATHILAKATH | November 3, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government must base its austerity measures on data and a clear analysis of the true costs of service delivery, writes Ram Mathilakath. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY RAM MATHILAKATH | November 3, 2025
Opinion | BY RAM MATHILAKATH | November 3, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government must base its austerity measures on data and a clear analysis of the true costs of service delivery, writes Ram Mathilakath. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 31, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne indicated job losses are coming in the federal public service, saying its ranks have grown unsustainably since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 31, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 31, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne indicated job losses are coming in the federal public service, saying its ranks have grown unsustainably since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY RIDDHI KACHHELA, SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN | October 30, 2025
Rechie Valdez
The upcoming budget will give Women and Gender Equality Minister Rechie Valdez’s department $660.5-million over five years after advocates feared for significant cutbacks to WAGE’s work. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY RIDDHI KACHHELA, SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN | October 30, 2025
News | BY RIDDHI KACHHELA, SAMANTHA WRIGHT ALLEN | October 30, 2025
Rechie Valdez
The upcoming budget will give Women and Gender Equality Minister Rechie Valdez’s department $660.5-million over five years after advocates feared for significant cutbacks to WAGE’s work. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 29, 2025
Alex Benay,
Public Services and Procurement Associate Deputy Minister Alex Benay said while the Phoenix Pay system is not always perfect, but currently, pay errors are stemming from human errors among management within the public service. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 29, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 29, 2025
Alex Benay,
Public Services and Procurement Associate Deputy Minister Alex Benay said while the Phoenix Pay system is not always perfect, but currently, pay errors are stemming from human errors among management within the public service. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 21, 2025
Departments were expected to implement the September 2024 return-to-office directive from the Treasury Board, now led by President Shafqat Ali, but monitoring has largely been done on an ad-hoc basis. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 21, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 21, 2025
Departments were expected to implement the September 2024 return-to-office directive from the Treasury Board, now led by President Shafqat Ali, but monitoring has largely been done on an ad-hoc basis. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 20, 2025
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says pending budget cuts to the RCMP won’t impact the recently-announced hiring initiative that aims to add 1,000 new officers to the Mounties’ ranks. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 20, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 20, 2025
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says pending budget cuts to the RCMP won’t impact the recently-announced hiring initiative that aims to add 1,000 new officers to the Mounties’ ranks. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 16, 2025
A recent poll of 90 freelance interpreters found that 50 per cent were unlikely to bid on contracts if the 'lowest price' requirement goes into effect, while 79 per cent were unlikely to bid on contracts paid at an hourly rate as opposed to daily. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 16, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 16, 2025
A recent poll of 90 freelance interpreters found that 50 per cent were unlikely to bid on contracts if the 'lowest price' requirement goes into effect, while 79 per cent were unlikely to bid on contracts paid at an hourly rate as opposed to daily. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 2, 2025
Officials from Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and the Auditor General's office appeared before the House Public Accounts Committee on Oct. 2. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 2, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | October 2, 2025
Officials from Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and the Auditor General's office appeared before the House Public Accounts Committee on Oct. 2. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 29, 2025
Conservative MPs John Williamson, left, and Gérard Deltell arrive for the House Public Accounts Committee on Sept. 23. The committee, chaired by Williamson, met in camera twice during the first two weeks of Parliament's return. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 29, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 29, 2025
Conservative MPs John Williamson, left, and Gérard Deltell arrive for the House Public Accounts Committee on Sept. 23. The committee, chaired by Williamson, met in camera twice during the first two weeks of Parliament's return. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 27, 2025
AI Minister Evan Solomon says 'we need to use' the data storage infrastructure of U.S.-based tech giants in some cases. But, the majority of public servants surveyed this summer by KMPG in Canada say citizens’ data must be stored in the country. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 27, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 27, 2025
AI Minister Evan Solomon says 'we need to use' the data storage infrastructure of U.S.-based tech giants in some cases. But, the majority of public servants surveyed this summer by KMPG in Canada say citizens’ data must be stored in the country. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 25, 2025
Evan Solomon
Canada’s top data bureaucrat says artificial intelligence in the public service will soon be published in a searchable database, as AI Minister Evan Solomon teased the government is planning to introduce privacy and data legislation again, after two failed attempts. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 25, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 25, 2025
Evan Solomon
Canada’s top data bureaucrat says artificial intelligence in the public service will soon be published in a searchable database, as AI Minister Evan Solomon teased the government is planning to introduce privacy and data legislation again, after two failed attempts. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHARON DESOUSA | September 22, 2025
The Treasury Board Secretariat, led by Shafqat Ali, is expected to provide a pay equity plan for civil servants by August 2027, three years after the Pay Equity Act initial deadline. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SHARON DESOUSA | September 22, 2025
Opinion | BY SHARON DESOUSA | September 22, 2025
The Treasury Board Secretariat, led by Shafqat Ali, is expected to provide a pay equity plan for civil servants by August 2027, three years after the Pay Equity Act initial deadline. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 15, 2025
The impact of Prime Minister Mark Carney's spending review to slash 15 per cent over three years may not be felt by the bureacuracy for months, or even years, as the massive, slow-moving public service takes its time to correct and adjust. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 15, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 15, 2025
The impact of Prime Minister Mark Carney's spending review to slash 15 per cent over three years may not be felt by the bureacuracy for months, or even years, as the massive, slow-moving public service takes its time to correct and adjust. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
List | BY MARLO GLASS | September 15, 2025
Michael Sabia is heading the public service after taking on the post of clerk of the Privy Council Office on July 7. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
List | BY MARLO GLASS | September 15, 2025
List | BY MARLO GLASS | September 15, 2025
Michael Sabia is heading the public service after taking on the post of clerk of the Privy Council Office on July 7. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 11, 2025
Liberal MP Shafqat Ali
Sick days were significantly lower in the 2020-21 fiscal year, according to data from the Treasury Board Secretariat, when federal staff were largely working from home in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 11, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 11, 2025
Liberal MP Shafqat Ali
Sick days were significantly lower in the 2020-21 fiscal year, according to data from the Treasury Board Secretariat, when federal staff were largely working from home in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | September 8, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney's accelerated spending review carries the risk his cabinet 'may not see all the political landmines that could be waiting for them,' says Chrétien-era Liberal minister Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | September 8, 2025
FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW | September 8, 2025
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney's accelerated spending review carries the risk his cabinet 'may not see all the political landmines that could be waiting for them,' says Chrétien-era Liberal minister Sheila Copps. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 8, 2025
Liberal MP Shafqat Ali
Treasury Board Minister Shafqat Ali said the red-tape review intends to remove outdated regulation, reduce duplication with provincial rules, and making it easier to access and deliver services. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 8, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 8, 2025
Liberal MP Shafqat Ali
Treasury Board Minister Shafqat Ali said the red-tape review intends to remove outdated regulation, reduce duplication with provincial rules, and making it easier to access and deliver services. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 8, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced that the Canada Revenue Agency has 100 days to improve its service quality. Matt Gurney writes that improving customer-service problems should be 'high on the list of the absolute simplest' issues to address. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 8, 2025
Opinion | BY MATT GURNEY | September 8, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced that the Canada Revenue Agency has 100 days to improve its service quality. Matt Gurney writes that improving customer-service problems should be 'high on the list of the absolute simplest' issues to address. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY EDITORIAL | September 8, 2025
François-Philippe Champagne
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is promising to fix the CRA's long-established service problems. A more efficient CRA could provide the assistance that Canadians deserve from the agency, and make it easier for the government to collect money.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY EDITORIAL | September 8, 2025
Opinion | BY EDITORIAL | September 8, 2025
François-Philippe Champagne
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is promising to fix the CRA's long-established service problems. A more efficient CRA could provide the assistance that Canadians deserve from the agency, and make it easier for the government to collect money.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 5, 2025
Then-deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo, left, and then-chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam at a press conference in 2020. The union representing some staff affected by job cuts warns they will 'pile even more pressure' on a health-care system under strain. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 5, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 5, 2025
Then-deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo, left, and then-chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam at a press conference in 2020. The union representing some staff affected by job cuts warns they will 'pile even more pressure' on a health-care system under strain. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 3, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne called for the Canada Revenue Agency to 'implement' a 100-day plan to reduce 'unacceptable' delays and strengthen services. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 3, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 3, 2025
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne called for the Canada Revenue Agency to 'implement' a 100-day plan to reduce 'unacceptable' delays and strengthen services. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 1, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney's 28-minister cabinet will also be facing budget cuts as part of the government's fiscal review, which calls for departments to cut spending by 15 per cent over three years. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 1, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | September 1, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney's 28-minister cabinet will also be facing budget cuts as part of the government's fiscal review, which calls for departments to cut spending by 15 per cent over three years. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SHARON DESOUSA | September 1, 2025
Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Sharon DeSousa at a September 2024 rally. It’s impossible to have fair negotiations when employers can count on government interference to let them off the hook, writes DeSousa. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SHARON DESOUSA | September 1, 2025
Opinion | BY SHARON DESOUSA | September 1, 2025
Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Sharon DeSousa at a September 2024 rally. It’s impossible to have fair negotiations when employers can count on government interference to let them off the hook, writes DeSousa. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
News | BY ELEANOR WAND | August 30, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Major Projects Office, which will oversee national interest projects, launched on Aug. 29 and will be headed by former Trans Mountain Corporation CEO Dawn Farrell. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY ELEANOR WAND | August 30, 2025
News | BY ELEANOR WAND | August 30, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Major Projects Office, which will oversee national interest projects, launched on Aug. 29 and will be headed by former Trans Mountain Corporation CEO Dawn Farrell. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY WAHEED KHAN | August 28, 2025
Liberal MP Shafqat Ali
Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali. Targets set for the future that are based on outdated data, sets the public service for failure, year after year, writes Waheed Khan. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY WAHEED KHAN | August 28, 2025
Opinion | BY WAHEED KHAN | August 28, 2025
Liberal MP Shafqat Ali
Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali. Targets set for the future that are based on outdated data, sets the public service for failure, year after year, writes Waheed Khan. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | August 26, 2025
Evan Solomon
AI Minister Evan Solomon. A think tank report on AI in the public service says 74 per cent of federal, provincial, and municipal workers in the sector have jobs that are likely to interact with the technology, compared to 56 per cent within Canada’s overall labour force. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | August 26, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | August 26, 2025
Evan Solomon
AI Minister Evan Solomon. A think tank report on AI in the public service says 74 per cent of federal, provincial, and municipal workers in the sector have jobs that are likely to interact with the technology, compared to 56 per cent within Canada’s overall labour force. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | August 7, 2024
Alex Benay
Alex Benay, associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, speaks about the work to standardize and simplify HR and pay practices across the public service, during a news conference in Ottawa, on July 9.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | August 7, 2024
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | August 7, 2024
Alex Benay
Alex Benay, associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, speaks about the work to standardize and simplify HR and pay practices across the public service, during a news conference in Ottawa, on July 9.  The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STUART BENSON | August 7, 2024
Black Class Action Secretariat CEO Nicholas Marcus Thompson addresses an Emancipation Day rally calling for action on workplace discrimination within the PCO on Aug. 1 at the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STUART BENSON | August 7, 2024
News | BY STUART BENSON | August 7, 2024
Black Class Action Secretariat CEO Nicholas Marcus Thompson addresses an Emancipation Day rally calling for action on workplace discrimination within the PCO on Aug. 1 at the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHARON DESOUSA | August 5, 2024
President of the Treasury Board Anita Anand arrives for the Liberal party caucus meeting in West Block on Feb. 28, 2024.
Treasury Board President Anita Anand and the rest of government must work with us to create the public service of the future, writes Sharon DeSousa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SHARON DESOUSA | August 5, 2024
Opinion | BY SHARON DESOUSA | August 5, 2024
President of the Treasury Board Anita Anand arrives for the Liberal party caucus meeting in West Block on Feb. 28, 2024.
Treasury Board President Anita Anand and the rest of government must work with us to create the public service of the future, writes Sharon DeSousa. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | August 1, 2024
Public service unions are represented on the plan’s pension advisory committee, which advises Treasury Board President Anita Anand, pictured, on how to run, design, and fund the plan. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | August 1, 2024
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | August 1, 2024
Public service unions are represented on the plan’s pension advisory committee, which advises Treasury Board President Anita Anand, pictured, on how to run, design, and fund the plan. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY WAHEED KHAN | July 31, 2024
An Emancipation Day parade in 1894. While significant progress has been made, Black communities are still dealing with historical and current injustices, writes Waheed Khan. Photograph courtesy of Library and Archives Canada
Opinion | BY WAHEED KHAN | July 31, 2024
Opinion | BY WAHEED KHAN | July 31, 2024
An Emancipation Day parade in 1894. While significant progress has been made, Black communities are still dealing with historical and current injustices, writes Waheed Khan. Photograph courtesy of Library and Archives Canada
News | BY MIKE LAPOINTE | July 10, 2024
Treasury Board President Anita Anand
Treasury Board President Anita Anand announced on June 12 that the government will introduce legislative changes to expand the eligibility for early pensions this fall. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MIKE LAPOINTE | July 10, 2024
News | BY MIKE LAPOINTE | July 10, 2024
Treasury Board President Anita Anand
Treasury Board President Anita Anand announced on June 12 that the government will introduce legislative changes to expand the eligibility for early pensions this fall. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY NEIL MOSS | July 10, 2024
The heads of two unions representing Canadian officials posted abroad raised their concerns over health-care issues in a 2023 letter to Treasury Board President Anita Anand, but never received a response. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY NEIL MOSS | July 10, 2024
News | BY NEIL MOSS | July 10, 2024
The heads of two unions representing Canadian officials posted abroad raised their concerns over health-care issues in a 2023 letter to Treasury Board President Anita Anand, but never received a response. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY KATHRYN MAY | July 4, 2024
Treasury Board President Anita Anand, pictured June 18, 2024, in a Hill scrum, will propose legislative changes to the public service pension plan in the fall so border officers and hundreds of other workers can retire with pensions after 25 years of service. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY KATHRYN MAY | July 4, 2024
Opinion | BY KATHRYN MAY | July 4, 2024
Treasury Board President Anita Anand, pictured June 18, 2024, in a Hill scrum, will propose legislative changes to the public service pension plan in the fall so border officers and hundreds of other workers can retire with pensions after 25 years of service. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 1, 2024
The departments of Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, left, Treasury Board President Anita Anand oversee the government’s health-care plan, which transitioned from Sun Life to Canada Life on July 1, 2023. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 1, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 1, 2024
The departments of Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, left, Treasury Board President Anita Anand oversee the government’s health-care plan, which transitioned from Sun Life to Canada Life on July 1, 2023. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | June 27, 2024
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says information technology 'is one of the areas that needs improvement in the public service.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | June 27, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | June 27, 2024
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says information technology 'is one of the areas that needs improvement in the public service.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade