June 15, 2018 – Ottawa, Ontario – Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat -- National Public Service Week is an opportunity to recognize Canada’s superior public service, which last year was assessed as the most effective in the world by the joint Oxford University and U.K. Institute for Government’s International Civil Service Effectiveness Index.

Canada’s federal public service earned this international recognition even as many employees continue to experience significant pay problems as a result of the failed Phoenix pay system.

No one should have to worry about being paid for their work. These pay problems are completely unacceptable. The Government of Canada is working on solutions to stabilize the existing pay system as quickly as possible and to develop options leading to the next generation system.

Debi Daviau, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) and Treasury Board President Scott Brison, representing the Government of Canada, have announced today that they will collaborate using evidence to secure a new, transparent, accurate and integrated, end-to-end HR to pay system.

The government is committed to working with all of its public sector union partners. PIPSC is the second largest public service union and its representation of Government of Canada IT professionals provides a unique perspective on pay system challenges. We believe that public servants should pay public servants and we will work collaboratively to explore all options to ensure that our public service has the best system available.

Together we will develop a new sustainable system based on the principles learned from the errors of the past and drawing on the best ideas from around the world and the talents of our professional public service employees. We will keep a relentless focus on the end user – the public service employees of Canada.

We recognize the urgency of our common goal, which is why the government will continue to use all the resources and expertise of the public service to continue to stabilize the existing Phoenix system while working together to examine the best new path forward, in both the short term and longer term.  

Quotes

“Developing a next generation HR to pay system for Canada’s world class public service is an opportunity to learn from the lessons of past government-wide transformation projects. We look forward to working with our public service partners and following the evidence as we explore all options for providing the best user experience possible.”

      The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board

"In order to ensure success in the development of a new federal pay system, it is critical that we engage the IT expertise of PIPSC members in the choice and development of a new federal pay system.  It's one of the fundamental lessons we believe should be drawn from the problems with the current system. We look forward to the opportunity to partner on a solution that works for all federal employees." 

      Debi Daviau, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

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Contacts (media)

Jean-Luc Ferland

Media Relations
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
613-369-3163

Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Telephone: 613-369-9400

Toll-free: 1-855-TBS-9-SCT (1-855-827-9728)

TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 613-369-9371

Email: media@tbs-sct.gc.ca

Johanne Fillion

Communications Officer

Telephone: 613-228-6310 ext. 4953

Cell: 613-228-9048/1-800-465-7477

E-mail: jfillion@pipsc.ca

As the joint communiqué released today between Treasury Board President Scott Brison and myself shows, there is new progress to report on our efforts to replace the dysfunctional Phoenix pay system.

The government and PIPSC have agreed to “work collaboratively to explore all options to ensure that our public service has the best system available.” This at last indicates a strong commitment by the government to replace Phoenix, gives fresh hope that such a system will come sooner rather than later, and provides assurance that there is a role for PIPSC members in realizing it.

While we remain confident that the AFS proposal would result in faster conversion to a system that is cheaper, more accurate and reliable, the government continues to need convincing. We therefore will continue to champion this option (and encourage other members to do so), while also working with the government to examine all available options.

Coming so soon after the Auditor General’s final report on Phoenix’s “incomprehensible failure” (and our own assessment of that failure), I hope this new agreement gives us one more reason to celebrate National Public Service Week.

BetterTogether!

Debi Daviau

President