Evidence of meeting #104 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was use.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Is it outlined to employees in advance that for your professional device the information on there can be looked at?
12:30 p.m.
President, The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
I don't believe so.
Again, when I talk about decentralization, each department that hands out these devices would be responsible for making those disclosures, and it's not done in a consistent manner that is gathered at the higher level.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
12:30 p.m.
President, The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
It would be helpful if they made those disclosures, but again, if a policy says that you can, we really need to specify and drill down on what information would be gathered from your phone if under an investigation.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
I think we've heard from you that you believe in a correct balance between security and privacy, that there needs to be that measure in place. We've also heard that departments use this software for internal investigations and cite reasons like allegations of employee wrongdoing and instances of sexual harassment. Do you believe that this use is warranted?
12:30 p.m.
President, The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Yes. I do believe that, when investigating that, you should be using tools, but it should be very clear to the employee what you will access. I don't believe that the policies right now are clear that they could go and search in your back history and delete it and encrypt it and stuff, so I think more disclosure, more transparency and more accountability on both sides would be beneficial.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
What percentage of public servants receive government-issued devices?
12:30 p.m.
President, The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
That I can't tell you. That would probably be a question for the departments. There is no consistent policy on who can access that. It is really on an individual basis that they are issued.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
Parm Bains Liberal Steveston—Richmond East, BC
Has there been a level of privacy set that's expected for government-issued devices?
12:35 p.m.
President, The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
I don't believe so.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Thank you, Mr. Bains.
We now go to Mr. Villemure for six minutes.
12:35 p.m.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm going to take this opportunity to give notice of a motion.
February 15th, 2024 / 12:35 p.m.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
The motion reads as follows:
That, in accordance with section 108(3)(h), the Commitee undertake a study of the ethics and compliance with the rules of professional conduct in the awarding of contracts entered into by the government and the companies GCStrategies and Coredal systems consulting inc, with regard to the ethical obligations arising from the Code of Values and Ethics for the Public Sector; That the Commitee allocate a minimum of four meetings to this study; That the Commitee invite to testify : (a) Jointly, for two hours, Anita Anand President of the Treasury Board and Jean-Yves Duclos Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, as well as public servants; (b) For two hours, the President of the Canada Border Services Agency, Erin O'Gorman, and public servants; (c) And any other witnesses the Committee deems necessary. That the Committee report its observations and recommendations to the House.
The motion was sent to the clerk in both official languages.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Thank you for that notice of motion, Mr. Villemure. I gather that the motion has been distributed to the committee members.
You have four minutes and 45 seconds left.
12:35 p.m.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Were you surprised, Mr. Prier, when you heard about this practice?
12:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Association of Professional Employees
We were surprised that the policies in place weren't followed. We were surprised that the values underlying those policies were completely disregarded.
12:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Association of Professional Employees
However, we weren't surprised that the employer had installed the tools without discussing it.
12:35 p.m.
President, The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
I wasn't surprised. I'm disappointed but not surprised. As we have decentralization of the federal public service, this is common for most of the violations that we see. There's little oversight in departments on some of these policies, and we need to have better oversight.
12:35 p.m.
Bloc
René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Were you reassured by the answers given by the officials who have appeared before the committee thus far?
12:35 p.m.
President, The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Absolutely not.