Human Resources Committee on April 30th, 2018

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

“Maintained operating budgets”...?

[Kristel Henderson]

That's right.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

Was there no increase?

[Kristel Henderson]

I'm not sure of exactly the numbers. We can give that to you, certainly.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

Okay.

[Kristel Henderson]

In terms of essential services, the work that's done within the institutions and within our community offices is certainly work that would be deemed essential for the safety and security of the public.

You asked a question around what types of jobs or duties wouldn't be considered essential, potentially. There are a number of positions within national or regional headquarters that support programs, for instance. There may be some positions related to internal services positions. I can think of a few within human resources, perhaps, such as training, learning, and development positions. The kinds of positions where there's no direct or indirect impact to the provision of essential services within our institutions and our communities would be the types of positions that may not provide essential-type work.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

MP Fortier, go ahead, please.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I have one question, then I will give the rest of my speaking time to Mr. Morrissey.

Mr. Thibodeau, can you quickly describe the current state of the work relations in your sector of the public service?

[Marc Thibodeau]

Thank you for your question.

The Canada Border Services Agency just concluded an agreement in principle with our employees' main bargaining agent. So the climate is perhaps better now than it was a few weeks ago.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

All right, thank you.

Ms. Hume, how is it where you are?

[Ann Marie Hume, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency]

With the Canada Revenue Agency, like my colleague, we recently concluded an agreement with the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, and we not too long ago concluded an agreement with the Union of Taxation Employees as well.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you.

Actually, I would like all of you to answer this question.

[Kristel Henderson]

Similar to my colleagues here, we recently concluded a collective agreement with the correctional officers, and as well, therefore, the others that Treasury Board is the employer for.

[Geoff Bowlby]

We're in the middle of collective bargaining for the statistical survey operations. There are two bargaining tables. I would say that it's going very well right now—very collaborative.

[Sandra Hassan]

In the core public administration, 23 of the 27 groups have agreements, whether signed or in principle.

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you everyone.

Mr. Morrissey, the floor is yours.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Thank you.

I'd like to understand a bit more about the amendment that was suggested by PSAC during their testimony last week. The President of the Treasury Board said last Monday that this bill is about “restoring the balance” to the labour relations regime that existed before the former Conservative government changed the law in 2013. Just to confirm, that is what Bill C-62 does, correct? It restores the labour relations regime that was in place before 2013. Am I correct?

[Sandra Hassan]

That is correct.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Thank you.

The amendment that was mentioned by PSAC would remove a clause that was a part of the labour relations regime. Was that clause ever subject to a court challenge during the decade prior to the former government's changes?

[Sandra Hassan]

To our knowledge, that was not subject to a court challenge.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Okay. I just want to go back to see if you can get a clarification. I don't expect that you would have that information here.

Could you also report back on the difference in the accounting entry and the actual cash cost to the government from people taking sick leave?

[Sandra Hassan]

We are checking with our colleagues, and as soon as I get the answer I will answer that question.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

If you could provide it to the committee, I would appreciate it: the difference in the actual cash cost to the treasury versus an accounting entry.

[Sandra Hassan]

We will look into that. Ideally, if we could get back to you before the end of this meeting, that would be our preference.