Open Letter regarding Draft Guidelines Consultation at the Patent Medicine Price Review Board of Canada,

OTTAWA, December 5, 2019  – Debi Daviau, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) presented the 2019 Institute’s Gold Medal to Dr. Xiaolan Wang to recognize her contributions to the understanding of climate change in Canada and internationally. Dr. Wang is a Senior Research Scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Dr. Wang’s research seeks to understand the past, current and future behaviour of regional and global climate. Now used by scientists in more than 50 countries, her statistical methods and user-friendly software have changed the way scientists assess climate trends.

“Dr. Wang is an example of the role model that the Institute’s Gold Medal is intended to honour. She is a visionary in the field of climate change research and is held in very high regard in Canada and internationally,” commented President Daviau.

“The tremendous contribution that dedicated professionals like Dr. Wang make to the public good confirms that the federal government has a unique role to play in scientific research. The federal government is responsible for creating and maintaining a climate in which fruitful research can take place and flourish.”

“The work needs to be done in a systematic and sustained manner, and it needs long-term commitment,” explained Dr. Wang. “Without a consistent data process conducted by skilled scientists, artificial data would slip through the cracks and drastically alter our knowledge about climate change.”

“Scientific research is a critical component of our success as a society – whether it is our ability to protect the health and safety of our fellow citizens, preserve our environment, or ensure future economic prosperity,” added Daviau.

Dr. Wang played an important role in Canada’s Changing Climate Report released earlier this year. Canada’s climate is warming more rapidly than the global average and will continue to do so. The report helps illustrate that climate change is real and driven by human activity.

The Professional Institute established the Gold Medal Award program in 1937 to recognize professional public service employees whose outstanding work has led to the improvement and enhancement of public well-being. The program promotes greater awareness of the role and value of professional public services in Canada and globally. 

The 2019 Gold Medal was presented at PIPSC 100^th annual general meeting at the Hilton Lac Leamy Conference Centre in Gatineau, Que., on Nov. 8-9. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents 60,000 public service professionals across Canada. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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For further information: Johanne Fillion, 613-228-6310, ext 4953 or 613-883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca

NOTE: The award presentation is available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5MnVA7vU6E&feature=youtu.be

Ottawa, November 7, 2019 – The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) will hold its 100^th Annual General Meeting on November 8 and 9 in Gatineau.

This year’s theme is Leading Progress. PIPSC will be marking its centennial by celebrating its members’ leadership in creating progress in Canada. 

“What an amazing milestone to celebrate. We have been leading progress for 100 years and we will continue to build on that strong foundation,” said PIPSC President Debi Daviau. “Our members expect to see us out front, working hard to deliver for them. And that’s exactly what we continue to do.”

The Institute is proud to welcome as this year’s keynote speaker Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, and receive a presentation from David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, on PIPSC’s membership survey.  

Event: 100^th Annual General Meeting

Where: Hilton Lac Leamy Conference Centre, Gatineau (QC)

When: November 8^th and 9^th, 2019

Media events: Friday November 8^th

• Address by PIPSC President Debi Daviau at 8:40 a.m.
• Address by Abacus CEO David Coletto at 9:15 a.m.
• Address by CLC President Hassan Yussuff at 9:50 a.m. 

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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For further information:

Johanne Fillion, (613) 228-6310 ext 4953 (office) or (613) 883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca

NOTES:

1. The speeches at the AGM will be available for live viewing on the PIPSC Facebook Page. 
2. Learn more about the PIPSC 100^th Annual General Meeting (2019) 
3. Hashtag: ‪#‎PIPSCAGM

In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada's President Debi Daviau committed to collaborating with the new government and all parties holding the balance of power to retain a strong public service.

“Canadians have voted for a Parliament that believes in maintaining a strong public service,” says Daviau. “We look forward to working with all parties to ensure our members can deliver the services Canadians rely on.” 

As co-chair of the committee overseeing the replacement of Phoenix, President Daviau will continue to push this project to the finish line.

“Phoenix is a top priority for our members — we must remain laser-focused on building a system that pays public servants correctly and on time. We’re eager to get back to work and ensure this project stays at the top of the agenda.” 

Daviau is confident that PIPSC can collaborate effectively to ensure that the federal public service meets the growing needs and aspirations of all Canadians in the years ahead. She outlined PIPSC’s top priorities that she looks forward to discussing with the new Cabinet: 

• Reducing costly and wasteful outsourcing of government consultants
• Ensuring that Canada’s public scientists have the resources they need to help our country face difficult health and environmental challenges ahead
• Giving the Canada Revenue Agency and our members the resources they need to collect the billions of dollars lost every year because of tax loopholes

“We have much work to do,” says Daviau. “We will hold this minority government to account demanding tax fairness, ensuring investment in public science and ending the reliance on outsourcing in the public service.” 

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents 60,000 public service professionals across Canada. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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For further information: 

Johanne Fillion, 613-228-6310, ext 4953 or 613-883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca

Ottawa, October 4, 2019 – PIPSC President Debi Daviau will be speaking to union members outside Place du Portage on Monday morning about the importance of electing a government that closes tax loopholes to pay for climate action. This is part of PIPSC’s ongoing campaign calling on Canadians to vote to protect public services.

When: Monday, October 7 at 8 am
Who: PIPSC President Debi Daviau
Where: 22 Eddy Street, Gatineau

On-site contact persons: Catherine Gagnon at 819-360-4206 and Shelley Melanson at 613-668-3334. 

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents 60,000 public service professionals across Canada. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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For more information, please contact:
Johanne Fillion, 613-228-6310, ext 4953 or 613-883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca

Ottawa, September 26, 2019 – Ninety-four percent of federal scientists say climate change is a crisis in need of immediate action. Only 20% of them think Canada is doing enough to fight and mitigate the climate crisis.

The results are from a survey conducted by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, the union representing 60,000 professionals including Canada’s public scientists. 

“We’re facing a global climate crisis – with fires, floods and extreme weather threatening us all,” said PIPSC President Debi Daviau. “Canada’s public service has some of the world’s best climate scientists and they can give us the solutions to climate change that we need.” 

Daviau argued that Canada’s climate scientists need the necessary resources to do their jobs, but billions of dollars in public funds are being lost every year because of tax loopholes that let corporate cheats duck paying their fair share.

We now have the number of scientists restored, after the previous government’s deep cuts, but we can’t risk leaving them unresourced in the face of climate crisis.

“Nine out of 10 Canada Revenue Agency tax professionals say it is easier for corporations and wealthy individuals to evade or avoid tax responsibilities than it is for average Canadians,” said Daviau. “Do the math. If we close the tax loopholes, we can fund climate action. In this election, we’re calling on voters to elect MPs that are committed to tax fairness and climate action.” 

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents 60,000 public service professionals across Canada. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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For further information: 

Johanne Fillion, 613-228-6310, ext 4953 or 613-883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca

OTTAWA, September 16, 2019 – The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), in its election ad, is calling on federal parties to commit to closing corporate tax loopholes to pay for action on the climate crisis.

“We are facing a global climate crisis,” said President Debi Daviau, “and we have some of the best climate scientists in the world in our public service. They can give us the solutions to climate change that we need. But they need the resources to do the job.”

80% of Canadians and 90% CRA tax professionals agree: “it is easier for corporations and wealthy individuals to evade and/or avoid tax responsibilities than it is for average Canadians.” 

In a video released today, the union calls for closing the tax loopholes that allow corporate tax cheats to duck paying their fair share. 

PIPSC will be sharing the video directly with members and with the Canadian public through social media, calling on voters to make tax fairness and climate action the deciding issues of this election. 

“Visit our website, share the video, get informed on the issues and get out to ask candidates tough questions about the future of our country,” said Daviau. “We need to come out of this election with a government that protects public services and respects the people who provide them.”

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents 60,000 public service professionals across Canada. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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For further information: 

Johanne Fillion, 613-228-6310, ext 4953 or 613-883-4900 (cell), jfillion@pipsc.ca

Ottawa, September 9, 2019 -- Dr. Margaret Haydon, a scientist who was fired by the government for blowing the whistle on Health Canada's approval process of a controversial veterinary drug, has filed an appeal to the unfair compensation provided by the Federal Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board in her case.

In July 2004, the government fired Dr. Haydon and her colleagues Dr. Gerard Lambert and Dr. Shiv Chopra for going public with their concerns about the approval of the recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), used to increase milk production in cows. The drug could have leached into Canadian dairy products and impacted public health. Their efforts to keep bovine hormone growth out of Canada’s milk supply were ultimately successful – but at a personal and professional cost.

“Every time you drink a glass of milk, you should thank Dr. Margaret Haydon, Dr. Gerard Lambert and Dr. Shiv Chopra for ensuring it isn’t laced with harmful drugs,” said PIPSC president Debi Daviau. “But what did these scientists get for preserving your food safety? Fired. The government dragged their reputation and careers through the mud. It was unconscionable and we can’t allow that to ever happen again.”

After years of administrative tribunals, Dr. Haydon won her case before the Federal Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board. But the Board limited the return of lost wages to only a period of 10.5 months.

“The compensation awarded by the tribunal was unfair and not enough to deter future governments from conducting reprisals against public service professionals who speak truth to power,” said Daviau. “Not only are we going to continue to fight for a fair compensation for Dr. Haydon, we’re going to fight for a better Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act to actually protect whistleblowers and the public.”

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents 60,000 public service professionals across Canada.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter

Today, President Debi Daviau joined the Treasury Board to announce the next steps in the journey to replace Phoenix. This is an encouraging step forward.

PIPSC members, including President Daviau have been an integral part of the process and will continue to be consulted through piloting and testing. It is critical that we remain vigilant and ensure the process to replace the pay system stays on track

Details in the press release below:

Government of Canada qualifies 3 vendors to advance Next Generation solution

June 12, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario – Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Canada’s hard-working public servants must be paid accurately and on time. The Government of Canada is committed to making this right for its employees.

Today, the Government reached another milestone in its ongoing efforts to eventually replace the Phoenix pay system. Following an innovative and agile procurement process that sets the template for transformative technological change, the Government has selected Ceridian, SAP, and Workday as the qualified vendors. These vendors will continue to work with the Government to identify the path forward for the Next Generation solution, in preparation for the replacement of Phoenix.   

For the past year, the government has been asking vendors to prove their capacity to deliver through a series of three increasingly complex stages (or gates). Throughout the process, the government engaged closely with bargaining agents, technology providers and, most importantly, public service employees. From January to April, in-person and digital User Expos were held across the country to gather insights from thousands of employees on potential features of a new system and for them to provide feedback.

Bargaining agents, notably the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada representing government IT professionals, have been closely involved throughout the process and the government is committed to continuing to work with them in the next stages of the project.

The next step will be to establish partnerships with one or more of the vendors for the co-design and the delivery of pilot projects, to test solutions against the real complexity of federal government HR and pay needs. The government will continue to engage with employees and bargaining agents in an open and transparent manner, so that the new solution addresses the needs of a modern public service.

Quotes

“We’ve learned the lessons of the past and have radically changed the way we are pursuing a modern, user-friendly and mobile HR and pay solution. We’re investing the time and resources to make sure the solution fits the needs of our employees. Our world-class public service deserves no less.”

- The Honourable Joyce Murray, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government

“Our Government is committed to finding a system that meets the needs of employees, in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. To support this goal, we are taking an agile procurement approach that includes continuous collaboration with industry, government departments, unions and employees at each stage of the process.”

- Steven MacKinnon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility

“This is another encouraging step on the long road to a new, reliable pay system. The consultation process has been productive and our members will continue to participate in ongoing piloting and testing. I will remain vigilant that the work to replace Phoenix remains on track and is a top priority.”

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

Associated links

• Next generation human resources and pay system for the public service
• Government of Canada takes next steps towards next generation pay system