December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women.

Commemoration will take place across Canada and this year PIPSC will participate in the event to be held at the Ottawa Human Rights Monument on Elgin Street at 6pm.  PIPSC is also hosting a quiet reception after the event at the Lord Elgin Hotel for members in our community affected by the tragedy.

As well as commemorating the 14 young women whose lives ended in an act of gender-based violence that shocked the nation, December 6 represents an opportunity for Canadians and the labour movement to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. And to make a difference. As a union, it is within our power to make the workplace safer, free of violence and supportive of our members who face domestic violence.

This year we have seen some significant progress on that front: During the last round of bargaining, the Audit, Commerce & Purchasing Group (AV Group) took the leadership on advancing a discussion to gain workplace supports for those impacted by domestic violence.

Consequently, PIPSC and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement that seeks to study potential workplace practices to support our members affected by domestic violence.

Recommendations from this AV Group initiative will later be presented to the joint Union-Employer Committee struck to develop the Employee Wellness Support Plan on behalf of PIPSC public service members.

Discussions between PIPSC and TBS regarding workplace supports for members impacted by domestic violence will start this month.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) welcomes today’s apology by the Prime Minister to members of the LGBTQ community harmed by decades of official and unofficial discrimination.

For decades, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and queer federal employees were the subject of widespread prejudice that left them silent victims and, in many cases, unemployed. No more.

We believe today’s apology represents a significant step towards eventual reparations that will ensure past wrongs and current rights are recognized in the future.

On June 1, 2017, the Joint Union-Management Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion presented a progress update to Treasury Board President Scott Brison.

The Task Force has a one-year mandate to define what diversity and inclusion means in the public service, establish the case for diversity and inclusion, and recommend a framework and action plan.

The update summarizes their work over the past six months and identifies areas for potential action. These actions include creating tools to ensure that diversity and inclusion are considered in making decisions and policies, better engaging senior leaders and employees on diversity and inclusion, and improving education and awareness to spur change across the public service.

PIPSC is proud of the leading role we have played in the establishment of this initiative. We would particularly like to convey our sincere appreciation to its Technical Committee Co-Chair, our own Waheed Khan, for his tireless commitment to the cause of Diversity and to this critical initiative.

“We need to identify and address systemic barriers that keep certain groups of talented Canadians from joining the Federal Public Service, and advancing to positions and levels where they can make optimal contribution to the health of the public service institutions, which is essential to serving Canadians with excellence. We need to develop leadership that is capable of, and committed to changing the culture of the public service to become more representative and inclusive. A public service that rewards talent, professionalism and dedication, and where the background, culture, religion and any other identities, are respected and promoted.”
– Debi Daviau, President, The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)

The Task Force is expected to present its action plan in the fall of 2017.

For more information:

Progress Update: Joint Union/Management Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion in the Public Service

Joint Union/Management Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion in the Public Service

PIPSC takes leading role in the Joint Union/Management Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion in the Public Service

Name-Blind Pilot Initiative, Debi Daviau Interview on CTV Power play - April 21, 2017

Demographic Snapshot of Canada’s Federal Public Service, 2016

On April 24, 2017, the Joint Union-Management Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion launched an online survey to gather ideas to identify contributing factors to an inclusive workplace and barriers to inclusion faced by employees.

A link to the online survey will be emailed to all employees, including PIPSC members, who work in 30 Departments/Agencies (listed below).

The Institute encourages PIPSC members who receive the invitation to participate in this survey, which is open from April 24 to May 31, 2017.

The online questionnaire contains 5 questions and will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete. If you require an alternative format (e.g. paper copy), please send your request to the Diversity and Inclusion electronic mailbox. The survey is confidential and the names of the employees responding to the survey will not be disclosed to management.

Your views are vital to help the Task Force define and establish the case for diversity and inclusion in the public service and to recommend a framework and action plan.

We are pleased that PIPSC Diversity and Inclusion Champion Waheed Khan is Co-Chair of the Task Force Technical Committee. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact him by e-mail at diversity@pipsc.ca. Representatives from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), and the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) are also represented on the Task Force, along with an equal number of management representatives.

By promoting diversity, unions cultivate a culture of inclusiveness and solidarity within our ranks and a positive outreach in the broader society. While gains have been made in creating a more diverse and representative public service, significant challenges remain in creating a public service that is representative of the evolving Canadian population that we serve.

Diversity and inclusion—these are the things that have made Canada strong. Let’s demonstrate that we are better together and do everything we can to promote our values of diversity and inclusion.

“Public service professionals serve all Canadians. All Canadians must see themselves included in our public service. PIPSC is proud of the leading role we have played in the establishment of this initiative. I’m counting on this joint task force to remove the remaining barriers in the way of our public service truly reflecting the diversity of Canada.”
– Debi Daviau, President, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

For more information:
PIPSC takes leading role in the Joint Union/Management Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion in the Public Service
Joint Union/Management Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion
Task Force to examine diversity and inclusion in the public service
Name-Blind Pilot Initiative, Debi Daviau Interview on CTV Power play - April 21, 2017
Demographic Snapshot of Canada’s Federal Public Service, 2016

Departments/Agencies

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Revenue Agency
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Correctional Service Canada
Employment and Social Development Canada
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Finance Canada, Department of
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Global Affairs Canada
Health Canada
Heritage Canada
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Infrastructure Canada
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Justice, Department of
Library and Archives Canada
National Defence
Parks Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Safety Canada
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (civilian employees)
Shared Services Canada
Statistics Canada
Status of Women
Transport Canada
Treasury Board Secretariat
Veterans Affairs Canada