Evidence of meeting #57 for Status of Women in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was workplace.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:20 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
Yes. I believe we've tabled the policy with you, and they're available on our website.
On our internal website...why don't you answer that, Denise?
11:20 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
The policy itself is posted on our internal website.
if I understand your question correctly, you would like to know if training on sexual harassment is specifically provided.
No, because I have to tell you that we have not yet felt the need to do so. Training was provided when the policy came into effect. Since that time, we have not really felt the need to provide that specific training.
We often work with the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament on initiatives like training. As you said, we do not have to wait until the need arises. We could do it a little more proactively. Yes, of course, we could see what training already exists in this area.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Apart from what is on the intranet, do you distribute anything on paper? Is it just through the intranet?
11:20 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
When employees are hired, we give them a paper copy. When the training was given, a document was also distributed to the participants, as I recall.
As you mentioned, the policy is very detailed. Behaviours are listed. They are indicators. It does not mean that they are real situations, but it helps us to train employees for those kinds of situations.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Thank you.
In your document on harassment in the workplace, you mention the importance of resolving harassment complaints in a reasonable time. What is a reasonable time?
11:20 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I have no case to use as an example for you because we have not had one yet. The key is to react quickly and act informally. Since our office is very small, we have to react immediately in order to maintain a positive work climate and to make sure that cases are resolved right away.
11:20 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
With regard to the one case I did have, I acted immediately, the next day. It was quite surprising to be in the job for two or three days and to get a harassment complaint, but we dealt with it immediately.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
In the incident you mentioned, you acted the next day. But how much time did you need to solve the conflict completely?
11:20 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
It was perhaps a month or two. We actually took some measures to get some training, some help for this individual, and that went on for a bit longer. But the complaint itself was dealt with within a matter of a week or two.
11:20 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
No.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Okay. Thank you.
Your documents on resolving harassment conflicts mention that retaliation is strictly prohibited. Do you have a policy that sets out the consequences should retaliation occur? Do you establish ways of avoiding it?
11:20 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
We probably do that through observation. The discipline policy would handle something like that because it would be the kind of behaviour that would not be tolerated. If I am not mistaken, it is even covered in our code of values and standards of conduct.
11:20 a.m.
NDP
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Confidentiality is the key to allowing an employee to register a complaint safely. In your documents on harassment, do those involved have to keep information confidential and what would be the consequences if someone did not obey the confidentiality rule?
11:20 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I'm not sure. Confidentiality in what context?
11:25 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I'm not clear—
11:25 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
In that case, the same policies would apply. Our office gathers and processes a great deal of personal information. Our human resources department is made up of two advisers and myself. Our office is very small and our practice from the outset has been that confidentiality is critical. We do not need a policy on that and employees would be informed about the need to keep information confidential in order to keep the working atmosphere positive.
11:25 a.m.
NDP
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
You said that you have about 45 people working in a range of areas from compliance to corporate management to investigations, legal services, communications and parliamentary relations. Could any of those 45 employees be considered an expert in harassment matters, or human rights in general?
11:25 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
No.
11:25 a.m.
NDP
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Are you thinking of adding that kind of expertise to your resources?
11:25 a.m.
Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
At the moment, we use Public Works' shared services in order to be able to provide human resources services. So we would have easy access to their services. I had a discussion with them yesterday to confirm that it is actually the case. We have that service at our fingertips.
