Government Operations committee  Our website contains tools all public servants can use to understand their responsibilities when it comes to public impartiality. They can use those tools to figure out whether they are acting in a non-partisan way. It all depends on the nature and the profile of their position, on their duties and on the type of political activity.

Government Operations committee  I can't comment directly on the situation because it hasn't been brought to the attention of the commission. Obviously, I have seen things about that in the newspaper. Public servants can come forward, or if people have concerns, they can bring those concerns forward to the commission.

Government Operations committee  The nominations by Governor in Council are not under the mandate of the Public Service Commission. I can speak about how appointments are done under the Public Service Employment Act. I'm not as familiar with how the nominations are done for Governor in Council appointments. I think, as the former president said, the nominations under the Public Service Employment Act are based on the fact that a person must meet the qualifications and must meet merit.

Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to start by saying that the commission's mandate is to protect non-partisanship when it comes to public servants. Under that mandate, we have to establish a balance between public servants' right to participate in political activities and the fact that they must do their work impartially.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Chair, honourable members, thank you for your invitation. I am pleased to be able to discuss my nomination as president of the Public Service Commission of Canada—a unique institution with a remarkable history. More than 100 years ago, Parliament passed legislation creating the first permanent commission responsible for safeguarding merit and non-partisanship in the federal public service.