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
Mark Carney
With a focused plan, $40-billion in savings in year one isn’t a fantasy—it’s feasible. But it will take a handful of sharp due diligence experts embedded in the Prime Minister Mark Carney and his key ministers’ offices, write Ram Mathilakath and Greg MacDougall. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Mark Carney
With a focused plan, $40-billion in savings in year one isn’t a fantasy—it’s feasible. But it will take a handful of sharp due diligence experts embedded in the Prime Minister Mark Carney and his key ministers’ offices, write Ram Mathilakath and Greg MacDougall. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY AIDAN WAKELY-MULRONEY | May 26, 2025
Canada has the resources to develop its own in-house version of Linux, and can draw on the experiences of allied countries that have made the switch, writes Aidan Wakely-Mulroney. Unsplash photograph by Oleksandr Chumak
Opinion | BY AIDAN WAKELY-MULRONEY | May 26, 2025
Opinion | BY AIDAN WAKELY-MULRONEY | May 26, 2025
Canada has the resources to develop its own in-house version of Linux, and can draw on the experiences of allied countries that have made the switch, writes Aidan Wakely-Mulroney. Unsplash photograph by Oleksandr Chumak
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 23, 2025
Notices posted at a Canada Post office on Sparks Street in Ottawa on Nov. 15, 2024, after the union was locked out by its employer after delivering a 72-hour strike notice. Just six months later, the union is again escalating strike action as its collective agreement expires. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 23, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 23, 2025
Notices posted at a Canada Post office on Sparks Street in Ottawa on Nov. 15, 2024, after the union was locked out by its employer after delivering a 72-hour strike notice. Just six months later, the union is again escalating strike action as its collective agreement expires. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 22, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has emphasized the need for government efficiency and a spending review, with his election platform saying programs aren't working as well as they should. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 22, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 22, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has emphasized the need for government efficiency and a spending review, with his election platform saying programs aren't working as well as they should. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 16, 2025
Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali, left, and Joël Lightbound, minister of government transformation, public works and procurement, are both new to cabinet. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 16, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 16, 2025
Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali, left, and Joël Lightbound, minister of government transformation, public works and procurement, are both new to cabinet. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | May 15, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured recently on the Hill. Of the $500-billion federal budget, most goes to transfers and benefits for people and provinces. What’s left—about $225-billion—covers everything else. The $123-billion operating budget is where cuts could come. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | May 15, 2025
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | May 15, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured recently on the Hill. Of the $500-billion federal budget, most goes to transfers and benefits for people and provinces. What’s left—about $225-billion—covers everything else. The $123-billion operating budget is where cuts could come. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 9, 2025
John Hannaford
Privy Council Clerk John Hannaford accompanied Prime Minister Mark Carney to Washington, D.C., on May 6. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 9, 2025
News | BY MARLO GLASS | May 9, 2025
John Hannaford
Privy Council Clerk John Hannaford accompanied Prime Minister Mark Carney to Washington, D.C., on May 6. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | May 8, 2025
Mark Carney
At Prime Minister Mark Carney's first press conference on May 2, he zeroed in on a handful of sweeping priorities aimed at making Canada and its economy more resilient and independent. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | May 8, 2025
News | BY KATHRYN MAY | May 8, 2025
Mark Carney
At Prime Minister Mark Carney's first press conference on May 2, he zeroed in on a handful of sweeping priorities aimed at making Canada and its economy more resilient and independent. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | May 5, 2025
Mark Carney
The Liberals under Prime Minister Mark Carney have promised reviews of government spending and efficiency. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | May 5, 2025
News | BY STEPHEN JEFFERY | May 5, 2025
Mark Carney
The Liberals under Prime Minister Mark Carney have promised reviews of government spending and efficiency. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY NEIL MOSS | April 30, 2025
The Privy Council Office issues guidance for ministers and the public service on what they can and cannot do during an election period. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY NEIL MOSS | April 30, 2025
News | BY NEIL MOSS | April 30, 2025
The Privy Council Office issues guidance for ministers and the public service on what they can and cannot do during an election period. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade