The Federal Election on the Horizon

Parliament has risen and MPs are back in their home ridings — we are getting closer to the next federal election. With fixed election dates, we can expect Election Day to be Monday October 21, 2019.

In the lead-up to the election, we will work to ensure your priorities are at the top of candidate's minds. Many of us are electing our employer. We know that the decisions made by the political party in power can have direct and potentially harmful impacts on our lives as employees and union members. It's important that you have all the information you need to make an informed choice at the ballot box. PIPSC is a non-partisan organization so we will not be endorsing one political party over another.

The outcome of election is unpredictable and polls have pointed to every possible scenario. With voter turnout historically declining, PIPSC members can make a real difference in their riding by showing up at the polls. Many ridings will be tight races so getting out to vote will be key.

Over the course of the next weeks and months, PIPSC will be releasing online ads and content for you to share on social media. In addition, we will provide engagement tools to use in local communities and workplaces to get involved in the election.

The more we engage our colleagues, friends, families and neighbours, the more we can ensure we elect a federal government that supports public services and the professionals who provide them. So stay tuned for more information about getting involved and voting for a government that reflects your concerns and interests as a federal employee or public service worker.

Do you have questions about your rights as a public service employee during the federal election? See our information sheet.


6 October 2017
Radio-Canada and the CBC have reported this week that Phoenix was “doomed from the start.” The reason? The business case prepared in 2009 under the previous government “lacked proper risk analysis and was politically motivated.” In the words of former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page, “You look at this business case, you can drive trucks through some of the holes under the risk analysis.”

3 October 2017
In light of the Phoenix fiasco and as part of a commitment made to bargaining agents to make it easier for their members to obtain information about their pay, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSCPC) has just released its Pay Bulletin for September.

2 October 2017
The Institute has just filed two new policy grievances on Phoenix-related issues, accusing the Treasury Board of failing to implement the terms of the AV and SP Group collective agreements within the specified timeframe (120 and 90 days respectively).

29 September 2017
While much has been reported about the impact of the Phoenix pay system on current federal employees, comparatively little has been said about the harm done to retirees.

21 July 2017
Recently, I sent an opinion piece to the Globe and Mail about our members’ ongoing problems with the Phoenix pay system and what I consider to be one of the root causes of the debacle: outsourcing.

12 June 2017
The recent recommendations of yet another consultants’ report on Shared Services Canada (SSC) demonstrate that, when it comes to federal government outsourcing, there’s no shortage of private sector advice.