The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Log in

Contracting out of IT Work at IRCC

April 26, 2021

The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 365 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1A 1L1
By email: Minister@cic.gc.ca

Dear Minister Mendicino,

I am writing on behalf of hundreds of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Information Technology specialists represented by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) regarding the contracting out of the work performed by members of our Computer Systems (CS) Group.

Our representatives have prepared the attached report, “Contracting Out of IT Work at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada”, an analysis of the policy grievances submitted against IRCC between January 2018 and March 2020 for outsourcing of government work that could have been done internally.

The data within demonstrates how the Department is not following Article 30 of the CS Collective Agreement, which stipulates that the employer must make a reasonable effort to use existing employees or hire new full-time or term employees as needed before contracting out work to private companies or consultants.

This report demonstrates that IRCC is the worst Canadian government Department with regards to adherence to Article 30. The length of time and the sheer number of contractors at IRCC in a position to do work that is established as permanent is staggering. In particular, our research shows a high amount of contracting out involving application support. This is important and non-temporary work that should undoubtedly be performed by public service professionals.

This is an issue of critical importance not only to our members and their public service colleagues, but to the Canadians they serve on a daily basis. Outsourcing results in higher costs, lower quality services, less transparency, less accountability and the loss of institutional knowledge and skills.

I thank you for your immediate attention to this matter and look forward to your response. Sincerely,

Debi Daviau,
President, PIPSC

cc : Catrina Tapley, DM, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (catrina.tapley@cic.gc.ca)

Published on 30 April 2021

12 February 2018
Parliament

Canadian Labour Congress Lobby Day 2018 a Huge Success

On February 6, 2018 PIPSC President Debi Daviau led a dozen-strong Institute delegation to Ottawa’s Parliament Hill as part of the Canadian Labour Congress’ (CLC) annual Lobby Day.
9 February 2018
statement

Statement by the Canadian Council of the Canadian Labour Congress

February 5, 2018 The 55 unions represented on the Canadian Council of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) recognize without exception that when one of our affiliates is attacked, our movement is attacked.
2 February 2018
AFS

President Daviau meets with National Revenue Minister Lebouthillier

On January 29, 2018, PIPSC President Debi Daviau met with Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier for the first time at the Canada Revenue Agency headquarters in Ottawa.  
1 February 2018
Phoenix pay system

Letter to Minister Brison about Phoenix overpayments

I recently wrote to Treasury Board President Scott Brison to express my frustration at being informed that the government is very likely not going to be able to process overpayment claims reported by the January 19, 2018 deadline.
22 January 2018
Separating

Statement on Unifor’s withdrawal from the Canadian Labour Congress

The news that Canada’s largest private-sector union, Unifor, has decided to withdraw its membership from the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) has taken many by surprise.
12 January 2018
Phoenix

Phoenix: Problems with Reporting Overpayments?

It has come to our attention that many of you who are trying to report overpayments by the January 19, 2018 deadline cannot get through to Contact Centre staff because of busy signals or being put on hold for extended periods.