The Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) has temporarily extended certain deadlines for buybacks, financial decision making and transfers. This will give members more time to make important decisions about your pensions. The Treasury Board has extended most deadlines by 180 days. The details of the extensions are available on the notice page, along with deadlines that have not been extended.

The PSPP is a defined benefits pension plan that covers most members working in the Core Public Administration and at separate employers.  Members of other pension plans should contact their HR representative for information on their plans.

We have created a new PIPSC Pension Advisory Committee. This committee will consult with members and pension experts to advise the president on the best ways to build, protect, and expand retirement security for our members and people in Canada.

Committee members:

Eric Boucher, Atlantic

Jordan Loverock, BC & Yukon

Lili Mats, Ontario

Michael O’Hare, NCR

Ratish Raghavan, NCR

Committee members were appointed as a result of a union-wide application process. Over 250 members applied to take on this important work. We acknowledge all members who generously offered their time and energy – your ongoing commitment to our collective work is invaluable.

Each application was reviewed by a panel of PIPSC staff and scored against the selection criteria. All personal information was removed for this process. A second panel of Pension and Benefits officers reviewed the top scoring candidates. This team then nominated the highest-scoring applications, with special attention given to ensure the nominees reflect the diversity of our membership.

The Pension Advisory Committee expects to start meeting this autumn to discuss current challenges like retirement security in the era of Covid-19, the Supplemental Death Benefit, and the attacks on the pensions of members at private employers and provincial groups.

In 2020, we awarded 57 scholarships worth a total of $86,500. To date, we’ve awarded $968,500 in scholarships to 506 students.

Thank you to the constituent bodies who funded scholarships in honour of PIPSC's 100th anniversary and thank you to all our corporate sponsors. Congratulations to all our laureates.

100th Anniversary Scholarships

$2,000 Atlantic Region Scholarship

• Sammi Szeto (Dartmouth, NS), University of Waterloo (Ming Wai Szeto, SP)

$2,000 Quebec Region Scholarship

• William James Dufour Doherty (Candiac, QC), Collégial international Ste-Anne (James Doherty, NR)

$2,000 Ontario Region Scholarship

• Amanda Dierickse (Waterloo, ON), McMaster University (Jie Dierickse, AFS)

$2,000 Prairie/NWT Region Scholarship

• Johanna Jacob (Calgary, AB), University of Alberta (Lizy Jacob (AFS)

$2,000 BC/Yukon Region Scholarship

• Jessica Lin (Vancouver, BC), University of Pennsylvania (Grace Qi Mi Tan, AV)

$2,000 Ottawa Centreville Branch Scholarship

• Megha Rao (Ottawa, ON), Western University (Manjunatha Rao, CS)

$2,000 Ottawa South Branch Scholarship

• William Zhu (Ottawa, ON), Western University (Boquan Xie, CS)

$2,000 AFS Group Scholarship

• Tami Ojewole (Edmonton, AB), University of Alberta (Mogbonjubola Yinka-Ojewole, AFS)

$2,000 CFIA-S&A Group Scholarship

• Doyinsola Ogunremi (Ottawa, ON), University of Ottawa (Dele Ogunremi, CFIA-S&A)

$1,500 NRC-RO/RCO Group Scholarship

• Alicia Shen (Côte Saint-Luc, QC), McGill University (Chun Fang Shen, NRC-RO/RCO)

$750 SH Group Scholarships

• Haven Driessen (Chatham, ON), Dalhousie University (Angela Driessen, SH)
• Hunter Hache (Pleasantville, NS), Acadia University (Alfred John Hache, SH)

$1,000 OSFI Group Scholarship

• Aaron Cabiles (Vancouver, BC), University of British Columbia (Ahnne Cabiles, OSFI)

$1,000 Research Group Scholarship

• Michelle Song (Wolfville, NS), McMaster University (Jun Song, RE)

$1,000 Retired Members' Guild Scholarship

• Katie Stewart (Dartmouth, NS), Mount Allison University (Brian Wolfe, NR, PIPSC Life Member)

$500 CS Group Scholarship

• Kevin Xie (Ottawa, ON), Western University (Wen (Karen) Du, CS)

$500 NR Group Scholarship

• Juliana Ye (Ottawa, ON), Queen's University (Judy Yi, NR)

$500 NEB Group Scholarship

• Grace Marshall (Calgary AB), University of Waterloo (Wayne Marshall, NEB)

$500 NRC-RO/RCO Sub-Group Scholarship

• Meriam Zeghal (Ottawa, ON), University of Ottawa (Morched Zeghal, NRC-RO/RCO)

Founders’ scholarships

$1,000 Gerry Hunder Memorial Scholarship

• Simona Poroshenko (Thornhill, ON), University of Toronto (Rena Rozentsvit, AFS)

$1,500 scholarship sponsored by the Computer Systems Group

• Sharon Peng (Ottawa, ON), Western University (Jason Yuan Peng, CS)

$1,500 Scholarship

• Omar Anany (Guelph, ON), University of Guelph (Hany Anany, RE)

$1,000 Scholarships

• Emilie Richard (Waterloo, ON), University of Waterloo (Yves Richard, NRC-RO/RCO)
• Meriam Zeghal (Ontario, ON), University of Ottawa (Morched Zeghal, NRC-RO/RCO)

Sponsors’ Series Scholarships

$5,000 Scholarship

• Jeevyn Atwal (Surrey, BC), Simon Fraser University (Baljinder Atwal, CS)

$2,000 Scholarship

• Myriam Khelifi (Québec, QC), Cégep de Sainte-Foy (Dr. Noura Ziadi, NRC-RO/RCO)

$1,500 Scholarships

• Catriona Chan (Markham, ON) Western University (Melissa L. Lam, AFS)
• Michelle Chow (Calgary, AB), University of Calgary (Sherry Chow, AFS)
• Alana Gin (Ottawa, ON), St. Francis Xavier University (Margaret McKay, NRC-RO/RCO)
• Shyla Gupta (Dartmouth, NS), Dalhousie University (Sanjeev (Sandy) Gupta, AFS)
• Juliana Koen Alfonso (St. John's, NL), Memorial University of Newfoundland (Mariano Koen Alonso, RE)
• Katrina Labonté (Ottawa, ON), University of Ottawa (Lisa Labonté, CS)
• Hannah Le (Ottawa, ON), University of Ottawa (Huy Le, CS)
• Emily Meade (St. John's NL), Memorial University of Newfoundland (James Meade, SP)
• Rebecca Morris (Ottawa, ON), Carleton University (Brett Morris, CS)
• Angela Pang (Markham, ON), Western University (Dr. Geordi Pang, MP) 
• Amy Posel (Toronto, ON), Queen's University (Bonnie Posel, AFS)
• Jennifer Shi (Ottawa, ON), McGill University (Jun Wu, CS)
• Gina Spencer (Massey Drive, NL), Queen's University (Michael Spencer, NR)
• Betty Zhang (Ottawa, ON), McMaster University (Hao Zhang, CS)
• Wade Zhang (Lethbridge, AB), McGill University (Yongxiang Zhang, SP)

Boys and Girls Clubs Scholarships

$1,000 Scholarship sponsored by the Research Group

• Jenna May (Halifax, NS), Dalhousie University

$1,500 Scholarships

• Kaitlyn Carter (Charlottetown, PEI), University of P.E.I.
• Alyssa Craig (Gatineau, QC), Université de Québec en Outaouais
• Hana Dathorne (Sherwood Park, AB), University of Alberta
• Emily Gilkes (Norris Arm, NL), Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Lenavah Hawthorne (Ottawa, ON), Algonquin College
• Marie-Eve Lafond (Montreal, QC), Université de Montréal
• Emmanual Ojo (Winnipeg, MB), University of Winnipeg
• Taneisha Rogers (Yorkton, SK), University of Regina
• Kisha Roth (Ottawa, ON), Carleton University
• Riley Searwar (Riverview, NB), New Brunswick Community College
• Deanna Seymour (Toronto, ON), George Brown College
• Kowamitha Shewcharan (Toronto, ON), University of Toronto
• Annabelle Théberge (Gatineau, QC), Université de Québec en Outaouais
• Yaël Witvoet (Ponoka, AB), University of Alberta
• Savannah Yambe (Vancouver, BC), Vancouver Island University
• Caleb Yaron (Victoria, BC), University of Victoria

Our scholarships are funded by the generous contributions of individual members, constituent bodies, and by corporate sponsors.

You can help us support a new generation of young professionals and make a difference in their lives.

DONATE

Xiaolan Wang is a climate scientist for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) who has worked all over the world in climatology. 

Xiaolan studied for her Hydrometeorology Bachelor and Master’s degrees in China before pursuing her PhD in climatology in Germany and Portugal. 

Her education and passion for meteorology led to her current job at ECCC as an expert in climate data sets. 

“The work I do matters to Canadians because it produces high-quality climate data sets and products and essential climate information — putting taxpayers’ money to use most efficiently,” Xiaolan says. 

Her primary goal is to understand past, present and future climate trends so we have the information we need to battle climate change. 

This research must be studied in the public sector because it is difficult for academia and private sector organizations to access the data, resources and funds necessary to conduct unbiased climate research. 

“Most of my work is hardly doable in academic and private sectors because it needs a broad range of data and expert knowledge about the history, current status and standards of climate monitoring in Canada,” she says.  

According to Xiaolan, the public sector ensures due process to guarantee the quality of research when determining a global action plan against climate change.

“The work needs to be done in a systematic and sustained manner, and it needs long-term commitment,” she says. 

Without a consistent data process conducted by skilled scientists, artificial data would slip through the cracks and drastically alter our knowledge about climate change. 

However, scientists like Xiaolan make sure errors like these don’t happen. 

Our scientists need sustainable working conditions and work-life balance. As a mother of two, Xiaolan appreciates the work flexibility that being a union member provides. 

“Having the opportunity to maintain work-life balance is very important for women in science,” she says. “I’m grateful that we have flexible work hours and telework arrangements in our collective agreements.” 

Most public scientists have heavy workloads, but according to Xiaolan, having union support means having access to helpful work and travel approvals, useful technology, and resources always at their fingertips. 

“It’s always good to know that there is union support for you and that there is someone you can talk to for help or advice when you need it,” she says. 

Canada must remain a leader in climate action — and it starts with our public scientists. 

Canada is lucky to have scientists like Xiaolan for the work they do to save our oceans and ecosystems.

The PIPSC Black Caucus is seeking volunteers to join the leadership team.

The Black Caucus will lead and implement strategies for combating anti-Black racism at PIPSC and with our employers by advising the Human Rights and Diversity Committee (HRDC) on issues and policies that directly relate to anti-Black racism. The caucus will identify and eliminate barriers to Black members’ success and create environments for members to reach their full potential.

The Black Caucus envisions an anti-racist PIPSC and anti-racist employers.

In August 2020, the PIPSC Human Rights and Diversity Committee (HRDC) announced the formation of the PIPSC Black Caucus under the leadership of Jennie Esnard, HRDC Chair, and Din Kamaldin, HRDC member.

Apply now

The Black Caucus welcomes Black PIPSC members from all communities to apply for the leadership team by September 21, 2020.

We’re seeking members who are ready to help the Black Caucus meet both its short and long-term goals. There are 4 available positions on the leadership team. The leadership team should be prepared to meet virtually regularly for the first couple of months, as applicable.

This is your opportunity to lead and implement policies and programs that support PIPSC’s Black members. You will have the opportunity to engage with anti-racist allies to build capacity in your union and workplace.

If you have any questions about applying for the leadership team, please contact Jennie Esnard and Din Kamaldin at Blackcaucus@pipsc.ca.

PIPSC President, Debi Daviau has reached out to all political leaders in New Brunswick to clarify their positions on issues that matter most to our members.

Read the letter

Several hundred PIPSC members live and work in New Brunswick. Our membership in the province includes Crown Prosecutors, Crown Counsel, Legal Aid Services employees, agrologists and agronomists, engineers, architects and land surveyors, as well as veterinarians and veterinary pathologists.

All who have continued to provide critical services to the people of New Brunswick during the COVID 19 crises. And many who have been on the front lines of the provincial and federal response to the pandemic.

President Daviau has asked each party to clarify what their position is on the following issues:

(1) If elected, what will your party do to ensure an effective, well-funded provincial public service continues to be in place in the years ahead?

(2) If elected, in light of ongoing health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, what will your party do to ensure the safety of our members returning to their regular work locations? And will your party support appropriate work-life balance accommodations for our members and their families given the continued uncertainty regarding what will constitute the “new normal” in the future?

(3) If elected, will your party ensure that our members receive fair compensation that is competitive with those of their counterparts across Canada? As you may know, public service professionals in New Brunswick are currently among the lowest paid in the country.

(4) With the move from a defined benefit pension plan to a shared risk pension plan, our members are now left with a retirement plan that delivers less and costs more. If elected, what will your party do to address this shortfall?

We are a non-partisan union and ready to collaborate with the next New Brunswick government to ensure that New Brunswickers continue to receive the excellent public services that they expect and depend on.

Many employees in the federal public sector are not aware of their entitlements relating to parental leave, family care and leave. These entitlements are in place to help employees with parental and caregiving responsibilities have a better work-life balance. Not knowing about their entitlements, however, means some employees don’t use these provisions.

Recognizing this issue, the Women in Science project team at PIPSC developed infographics depicting the general maternity, parental and family care leave entitlements, and return to work rights, available to federal public sector employees.

While the information in the infographics is almost exclusively from 5 collective agreements (RE, NR, SP, SH and AV) and Employment Insurance, most of the entitlements are common across different groups.

We hope that you will find the infographics to be a useful resource in helping you better understand and learn about your rights and entitlements as a parent and/or carer.

The Public Service Disability Insurance (DI) Plan will temporarily accept electronic forms and signatures for claims. 

To assist members, physicians and managers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sun Life will temporarily accept all 4 DI claim forms with electronic signatures, rather than handwritten signatures, by email at disabilityclaims@sunlife.com.

To apply for DI Plan benefits, 4 forms must be completed and sent to Sun Life:

• Employee’s Statement
• Attending Physician’s Statement
• Employer’s Statement
• Compensation Advisor’s Statement

All 4 forms can be found on the Sun Life DI Plan website.

Temporary acceptance of Employer Statement forms from a more senior manager 

On a temporary basis, a member’s more senior manager may complete and submit the Employer Statement form, provided they indicate to Sun Life that they are doing so due to the unavailability of the employee’s direct manager. 

In these cases, the name of the unavailable direct manager should be indicated on the form, on a separate sheet of paper, or in the submission email.

If completion by a more senior manager is not an option, the member is asked to call Sun Life at 1-800-361-5875.

Members who are having difficulty getting their Attending Physician’s Statement completed should also be instructed to call Sun Life to discuss their situation.

As always, should you or your attending physician have any questions or concerns, please contact Sun Life at 1-800-361-5875.

On August 19, 2020, we sent a letter to Minister Anand demanding a stop to the office conversion process until COVID-related health issues have been eradicated from federal workplaces.

Letter to Minister Anand

We have raised this matter on a number of occasions over the past few months. Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to obtain an answer regarding the failure of the Return to Workplace protocol to take the lessons learned during the pandemic into consideration in the design of future government workplaces.

The unions of the National Joint Council (NJC) Bargaining Agents share our concern and our letter was submitted on their behalf.

We have recently received information from our members that the federal public service is planning to continue with these conversions in years ahead. In one particularly alarming case, some of them were given a presentation about an upcoming conversion where they were told not to worry because “only half of you will be in these offices anyway” and “everything will be cleaned regularly so you’ll be fine.” This kind of cavalier approach is entirely inappropriate.

Planning for future conversions must also include much more rigorous health protocols, as well as meaningful consultations with Bargaining Agents. In the majority of cases now, we are not being consulted in the development of the open office design.

For years, we have opposed open office design based on the well-documented health, noise and productivity impacts on workers. In the context of the pandemic, we are now concerned that the federal public service is using this as an opportunity to further reduce its real estate footprint squeezing more workers into ever-smaller open areas. This will only exacerbate health and safety issues.