Evidence of meeting #68 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was process.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Perfect.
What is the role of the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer compared to that of the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada?
9:25 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Our role is to help the departments and chief executives to designate senior officers within their organization who will follow a process enabling employees to disclose information confidentially either to their manager or to the officers I mentioned. We are creating a leadership group in the departments to help to ensure that the policy is understood. We also interpret the act to help them to understand their roles and responsibilities. We also support them in terms of training. We provide them with tools to better manage their cases. We also liaise with the commissioner's office.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
You and Ms. Stevens report to the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, right?
9:25 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Yes.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Some departments, or some divisions at least, were said not to be subject to the act, including the Canadian Armed Forces. However, is the civilian portion of the Department of National Defence subject to the act?
9:25 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Yes, it is.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Perfect.
On page 4 of your presentation, you list what constitutes wrongdoing under the act, and you give some examples.
Could you speak more to the third example, gross mismanagement? Could you refer to some recent cases that constituted examples of gross mismanagement?
9:25 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Actually, we have some examples on our website. Had I anticipated your question, I would have printed that information. Unfortunately, nothing comes to mind at the moment. It is managed mainly by the commissioner. He's the one who would be able to give you examples like that.
February 7th, 2017 / 9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Very well.
Let me digress for a moment. On page 7, I like the thinking behind the text. You are referring to the principle of natural justice. I am surprised to read that. How do you define natural justice for the purposes of interpreting the act? It's wonderful to read the words, by the way, but it's still unbelievable. You are saying that the act is interpreted according to other acts of Parliament and the principle of natural justice, which differs from person to person.
9:25 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
The core principle is confidentiality. It is also important to meet the natural justice requirements in handling information and cases. That's basically what we are referring to.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Okay.
A little further on, you say that those who disclose wrongdoing can complain to the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner within 60 days of realizing that a reprisal was taken against them.
Since 2010, roughly how many complaints of that kind have there been?
9:25 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Are you talking about complaints made to the Commissioner?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Alupa Clarke Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
Yes.
Perhaps I can be more specific. I am talking about complaints that have led to compensation. How many complaints have led to compensation? In fact, what is compensation under this act?
9:30 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
That would be determined by the tribunal.
That's another very good question that you could ask the Commissioner.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
9:30 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
Yes.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
I think we're out of time, but the tribunal will be appearing before us in a future meeting. Perhaps it's a question you could ask them.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
Now we have Ms. Shanahan....
Could we go to Mr. Peterson, then, for five minutes?
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Kyle Peterson Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm going to ask a couple of questions about the code of conduct that is required under the act, and about the process.
How are employees informed about the code and its application to the act?
9:30 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
How are employees...?
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Kyle Peterson Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
How are they advised, informed, or made aware of the code, its provisions, and how it might affect their rights under the act we're discussing today?
9:30 a.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat
The codes are written into the letters of offer right from the beginning, and they are required to read the code upon being hired as an employee. It's right from the start.
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Kyle Peterson Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Okay.
It seems to me that the purpose of this act is twofold. First of all, I think it wants to create an environment where employees are not afraid or nervous about coming forward should they encounter wrongdoing. On the other side of the equation is that in so empowering those employees, wrongdoing would be routed out and the powers that be would be made aware of wrongdoing, therefore strengthening the public service as a whole.
Is it fair to characterize it in that manner?