News release

September 2, 2003

PSAC tells Senate:   Bill C-25 still seriously flawed 

OTTAWA – The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) wants the Senate to address the issues of staffing and whistleblowing protection in the federal public service before Bill C-25, the Public Service Modernization Act becomes law. To read the full text of the submssion, click here (Acrobat format).

Appearing before the Senate National Finance Committee today, PSAC National President Nycole Turmel cited the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) as an example of current safeguards in the staffing process being circumvented.   “The audit concluded that 20% of all staffing had been manipulated to ensure that friends, relatives, acquaintances and other ‘priorities' were hired,” according to Turmel.  

“Bill C-25 provides managers with even more latitude which means tremendous potential for more abuse of the system.   The PSAC is proposing changes that would help ensure the staffing process is both transparent and fair and has credibility with both federal workers and the Canadian public.”

Protection for whistleblowers has also recently been in the spotlight as a result of events in the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC).   “It is clear that public sector workers have an essential role to play in protecting the public interest by disclosing wrongdoing in the workplace,” says Turmel.   “However, Bill C-25, even as amended by the House of Commons, simply provides formal recognition of what is currently in place.”

“The current policy did little to prevent the situation at OPC.   We see it as fundamentally important that there be separate legislation which provides full and complete protection from all forms of reprisals and which creates and fully funds a separate, arms-length body reporting directly to Parliament.   However, the Senate should amend C-25 as an interim measure in order to protect whistleblowers from discipline and reprisals before any new legislation is enacted.”

Turmel also took the opportunity to comment on other major concerns.   She challenged the notion that the Bill is intended to build a more constructive relationship with federal unions when many provisions tip the balance of power even more in the government's favour.

“Bill C-25 goes far beyond what is required to ensure that essential services are in place for the safety and security of Canadians in the event of a strike,” explains Turmel.   “If the government is serious about improving union-management relations, it should welcome the opportunity to sit down with the unions and work out an essential services agreement.   Instead, the legislation puts all the decisions in the hands of the employer.”

“The legislation also subjects unpaid union volunteers to fines up to $10,000 and to summary convictions for various offences while providing no similar penalties for employer representatives guilty of offences.    Not only is this a question of undue hardship for our members, it will discourage them from exercising their legitimate right to actively participate in their union.”

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For information:              
Louise Laporte, PSAC Communications, (613) 560-4287

43-020903

To read the full text of the submssion, click here (Acrobat format).