Ottawa, November 3, 2018 – Members of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) on November 3 concluded their Annual General Meeting, and weeks of voting, by announcing the re-election of Debi Daviau as PIPSC President for a further three-year term.

Ms Daviau was first elected President for a two-year term in 2013 and again for a three-year term in 2015, following high-profile fights on behalf of federal scientists, IT experts and auditors.

In addition, PIPSC members elected 14 other board members, including:

Stéphane Aubry, Vice-President (full-time)
Norma Domey, Vice-President (full-time)

Gary Corbett, Vice-President (part-time)
Steve Hindle, Vice-President (part-time)

Robert MacDonald, BC/Yukon Regional Director (acclaimed)
Nancy McCune, Prairies/Northwest Territories Director (acclaimed)
Peter Gilkinson, Ontario Regional Director
Jennifer Carr, National Capital Regional Director
Jennie Esnard, National Capital Regional Director
Waheed Khan, National Capital Regional Director
Dave Sutherland, National Capital Regional Director
Yvon C. Brodeur, Québec Regional Director 
Kimberley Skanes, Atlantic Regional Director
Chris Roach, Advisory Committee Director 

The terms for all Board members begin January 1, 2019 and end December 31, 2021.

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For further information: 

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

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents over 55,000 professionals across Canada’s public sector.

OTTAWA, September 28, 2018 – As the federal Finance Committee prepares for cross-country public hearings on next year’s Budget, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) has released a fact sheet showing 72% of Canadians agree “in the next federal budget, funding for federal government science programs should be restored to what it was in 2011.” The finding, by Environics Research, is significant since overall funding for federal government science is in fact lower today than it was under the Harper government, in particular for research and development (R&D).

While Statistics Canada figures show overall funding of government science has increased from $10.4 billion in 2015/16 to $11.3 billion in 2018/19, actual spending is projected to be $112 million lower in 2018/19 than in 2014/15.

Worse, spending on R&D by government scientists has declined by $891 million compared to 2010/11 under the Harper government.

While some science funding has shifted to the private sector to encourage innovation, R&D by federal scientists has declined steeply.

“The strength of Canada’s R&D network depends on a robust federal government presence,” says PIPSC President Debi Daviau. “We cannot rely increasingly on the private sector alone to provide needed innovations. Often the very innovations we most need – for example, better weather forecasting, more resilient crops, improved pollution monitoring – result from R&D in areas of direct federal government responsibility, which is why we’re calling for more funding in next year’s budget.”

The StatsCan numbers reinforce the findings of a 2017 survey of federal scientists, which discovered well over half (58%) believe their departments do not have sufficient resources to fulfill their mandates. The problem is particularly pronounced in the Canadian Space Agency (79%), Natural Resources Canada (64%) and even Environment and Climate Change Canada, where 60% do not feel their department has sufficient resources.

The public opinion survey by Environics Research (commissioned by PIPSC) was conducted by telephone among 1,000 Canadians between July 3 and 8, 2018. The results can be considered accurate + or – 3.2%, 19 times out of 20.

Invitations to participate in the online survey of federal scientists, also hosted by Environics Research, were sent to 16,377 scientists, engineers and researchers in over 40 federal departments and agencies. Of these 3,025 (18.5%) responded between May 29 and June 27, 2017. The survey is considered accurate + or – 1.8%, 19 times out of 20. 

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents 55,000 public service professionals across Canada, including approximately 16,000 scientists, engineers and researchers, most of whom are employed by the federal government.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc).

For further information:

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

The Canadian Alliance of Nuclear Workers (CANW), of which PIPSC is a member, issued this press release earlier today:

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Nuclear workers urge government to solve pension crisis and protect a vital industry

CHALK RIVER, ON – September 21, 2018 - The Canadian Alliance of Nuclear Workers (CANW) is calling on the Government of Canada to end uncertainty for nuclear workers by reinstating their right to contribute to public service pension plans.

In September 2015, employees of Canada’s nuclear facilities were given notice that following a transitional period of three years, they would no longer be able to contribute to their public service pension plans.

The transition period has now elapsed without any action from the federal government. Nuclear workers are vital to Canada’s energy sector, and as such, they should be granted the same benefits as their industry peers.

The federal government is ignoring hard working Canadians. Failing to return these workers to their public service pension plans will make it difficult to attract new talent to maintain existing nuclear facilities. Cutting edge research will move abroad, and CNL won’t be able to meet its commitments to the federal government.

CANW says the government must sit down with workers and their representatives to find a solution.

Contact:

Steven Schumann
Co-Chair, CANW
(613) 325-6433

Matt Wayland
Co-Chair, CANW
(647) 465-6167

OTTAWA, August 30, 2018 – What’s a “reasonable time to wait for a replacement to the Phoenix pay system to be implemented”? According to a recent Environics Research survey commissioned by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), nearly half (46%) of Canadians say six months is a “reasonable time to wait.” That number rises dramatically to nearly 9 out of 10 Canadians (88%) when one includes those who believe two years or less is a reasonable time to wait.

It’s a response the federal government should bear in mind as it marks Labour Day, and while tens of thousands of federal employees still struggle with errors due to Phoenix that have left them paid too little, too much or, too often, not at all.

“We’ve already waited well over two years for a solution,” said PIPSC President Debi Daviau. “Now that the government has committed to finding an alternative, it needs to speed up implementation of those alternatives. Our members can’t wait another two years.”

“As an active partner in finding a new system as soon as possible, we intend to push for alternatives to be tried as quickly as possible,” added Daviau, referring to the working partnership announced in June between PIPSC and the federal government. Among those alternatives is the Corporate Administrative System (CAS), an HR-to-Pay software program used by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) that, PIPSC says, can be readily updated to a full-fledged payroll system.

“We believe the CAS system can be adapted and brought online much more quickly than the government’s current (and vague) timelines for implementing an alternative system,” said Daviau. “That would ensure at least 55,000 CRA and CBSA employees could be removed from the Phoenix pay system and paid through a new, much more reliable system sooner.  The government needs to speed up implementation of viable alternatives now. Our members can’t wait.”

The public opinion survey by Environics Research was conducted by telephone among 1,000 Canadians between July 3 and 8, 2018. The results can be considered accurate + or – 3.2%, 19 times out of 20.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents approximately 55,000 public service professionals across Canada, most of them employed by the federal government.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc).

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

OTTAWA, August 17, 2018 – Canadians who think it’s easier for the rich and corporations to avoid paying taxes have compelling new evidence to support their suspicions. An overwhelming nine out of 10 Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax professionals surveyed by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) agree “it is easier for corporations and wealthy individuals to evade and/or avoid tax responsibilities than it is for average Canadians.” That’s even more than the 79% of Canadians who agreed with the same statement in an Environics Research poll commissioned by PIPSC.

Moreover, only 16% of tax professionals believe there is adequate audit coverage to ensure tax laws are being applied fairly across the country. Eight out of 10 (79%) say training and technology advancements within the CRA have not kept pace with the complexity of tax avoidance schemes. Yet, 84% of tax professionals surveyed say the CRA can do more to increase revenues without raising taxes, simply by better enforcing existing tax laws.

“These findings highlight the difficulties our members face to ensure Canada’s tax system remains fair in the face of off-shore tax havens and other tax avoidance schemes,” says PIPSC President Debi Daviau. “While the current government has reinvested significant amounts in the CRA since 2016, there remains a $500-million annual gap in CRA funding compared to 2012, when the former Harper government announced massive cuts to the agency’s budget. That’s money that should be reinvested in next year’s federal budget to bolster employee training and technology and to strengthen additional efforts to ensure tax fairness.”

Among other findings in the survey:

• 81% say tax credits, tax exemptions and tax loopholes disproportionately benefit corporations and wealthy Canadians compared to average Canadians.
• Three-quarters (75%) agree multinational corporations shift profits to low-tax regions even when there is little to no corresponding economic activity taking place in that jurisdiction.
• Over one-third (37%) agree that internal restructuring at the CRA following the 2012 budget cuts resulted in average Canadians, charities and small businesses being targeted more relative to wealthy Canadians and corporations.
• Nearly half (45%) agree that the ability of the CRA to carry out its mandate has been compromised by political interference.

Invitations to participate in the CRA professional employees survey were sent to 11,599 members of the Audit, Financial and Scientific Group (AFS) between February 20 and March 6, 2018, of which 2,170 (18.7%) responded. The public opinion survey by Environics Research was conducted by telephone among 1,000 Canadians between July 3 and 8, 2018 and the results can be considered accurate + or – 3.2%, 19 times out of 20.

The full report on the survey results, titled Shell Game: How Off-Shore Havens, Tax Loopholes, and Federal Cost-Cutting Undermine Tax Fairness, can be read here.

A further two, more detailed survey reports examining challenges to CRA resources and possible changes to Canadian tax policy will be released in the coming months.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents approximately 55,000 public service professionals across Canada, including nearly 12,000 auditors, managers, forensic accountants and other tax professionals at the CRA.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc).

For further information:

Pierre Villon, (613) 228-6310 ext. 4928 or (613) 794-9369 (cell), pvillon@pipsc.ca

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

Ottawa, May 28, 2018 -- The 2018 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada, Michael Ferguson, will be tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 29 May 2018. The Spring Reports include the Auditor General's second and much-awaited report on the Phoenix Pay System.

PIPSC President Debi Daviau will be available for comment.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents some 55,000 professionals across Canada’s public sector.

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For further information:
Johanne Fillion (613) 228-6310 extension 4953 or (613) 883-4900 (cell)
 

NOTE:

The 2018 Spring Report 1 of the Auditor General of Canada — Building and Implementing the Phoenix Pay System:  The Office of the Auditor General examined whether the Phoenix pay system was fully tested, would deliver the functions needed to pay federal employees, was secure, and would protect employees’ private information. We also examined whether Public Services and Procurement Canada adequately supported selected departments and agencies in their move to Phoenix.

Source: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/mr_20180507_e_43017.html

Ottawa, April 17, 2018 – In a live town hall exchange today with members of the second-largest union of federal employees, PIPSC President Debi Daviau urged members to demand the government’s ministerial working group on Phoenix engage federal IT workers “at every stage” in building a new system.

“The government can't expect public servants to wait seven or eight more years before we get rid of Phoenix,” said Daviau. “Public service professionals are ready to lead the development of a functioning system.”

“The Phoenix fiasco is a direct result of wholesale contracting out – of choosing to completely bypass the skills and know-how of our professional public service,” said Daviau.

Last fall, PIPSC called on the government to forget Phoenix – configured by IBM Canada – and to replace it with a new system that works. In February, the government committed $16 million over two years to finding a replacement but says it will take up to a further six years to implement.

“We have been through two years of not being paid properly and they are asking us to potentially wait another six years,” added Daviau. “The answer can only be absolutely no. We will not wait that long.”

PIPSC maintains that, given the chance, federal IT professionals could significantly reduce the time needed to introduce a new system.

“We need to ensure the government is looking at every option available and that our IT community is engaged at every stage,” concluded Daviau.

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents approximately 55,000 public service professionals across Canada, including some 13,000 IT experts, most of them employed by the federal government.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter (@pipsc_ipfpc).

For further information:

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

April 11, 2018, Ottawa, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Canadians are best served when government scientists can speak openly about their work.

Today, the Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, and Debi Daviau, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, signed a joint letter emphasizing the freedom of publicly funded federal scientists to fully engage with each other and with Canadians on matters related to their research expertise.

Contacts

Jean-Luc Ferland
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
613-369-3163

Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
media@tbs-sct.gc.ca
613-369-9400
TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired)  613-369-9371

Ann Marie Paquet
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
613-404-2377
ann-marie.paquet@canada.ca

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca

Media Relations
Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Johanne Fillion
613-228-6310 ext. 4953
613-883-4900 (cell.)
jfillion@pipsc.ca

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Here is the joint letter.