Evidence of meeting #53 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 cases.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Alain Gauthier  Acting Director General, Operations, National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman
Jean-François Fleury  Acting Vice-President, Learning Programs, Canada School of Public Services
Felicity Mulgan  Acting Director General, Functional Communities, Authority Delegation and Orientation, Canada School of Public Service

10 a.m.

Conservative

Stella Ambler Conservative Mississauga South, ON

Thank you.

I was looking at some of the courses that are offered, in particular those on investigating harassment complaints and managing harassment complaints.

Let's say a supervisor or manager in human resources attends one of these sessions, probably a day-long session. I'm wondering who gives the sessions. Are they themselves human resources experts? I'm wondering if any of the teachers have been trained specifically in sexual harassment or harassment cases.

10 a.m.

Acting Director General, Functional Communities, Authority Delegation and Orientation, Canada School of Public Service

Felicity Mulgan

The instructors we use at the school are all experienced public servants who are currently public servants often on assignment to the school. They are experienced in the field.

I'm sorry; can you just remind me of the question again?

10 a.m.

Conservative

Stella Ambler Conservative Mississauga South, ON

Do the instructors themselves have backgrounds in dealing with harassment complaints?

10 a.m.

Acting Director General, Functional Communities, Authority Delegation and Orientation, Canada School of Public Service

Felicity Mulgan

Absolutely. That's essential for hiring them. They must have a background in that area.

10 a.m.

Conservative

Stella Ambler Conservative Mississauga South, ON

Do you feel that over time this issue has improved, and do you see that at the school? Over the last 10 or 20 years, have you seen an improvement or more of an awareness and a willingness to deal with sexual harassment complaints, as opposed to 10 or 20 years ago, when maybe they would have been swept under the rug? Are you seeing any improvement at the school level?

10 a.m.

Acting Vice-President, Learning Programs, Canada School of Public Services

Jean-François Fleury

From the school perspective, it was created in 2004, so trying to do the comparison over 20 years is—

10 a.m.

Conservative

Stella Ambler Conservative Mississauga South, ON

I'm sorry; I didn't catch that.

10 a.m.

Acting Vice-President, Learning Programs, Canada School of Public Services

Jean-François Fleury

That's fine.

The comparison is quite difficult, but definitely our curriculum has evolved to include a lot of the respectful workplace concepts. We feel that the heightened awareness has influenced the curriculum to ensure that the code has values and ethics, and that the workplace is—

10 a.m.

Conservative

Stella Ambler Conservative Mississauga South, ON

And it's reviewed every year, too—

10 a.m.

Acting Vice-President, Learning Programs, Canada School of Public Services

10 a.m.

Conservative

Stella Ambler Conservative Mississauga South, ON

—so that probably helps as well.

10 a.m.

Acting Vice-President, Learning Programs, Canada School of Public Services

10 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin

Ms. Ambler, your time is up. We also have to go to vote.

Ms. Truppe, you have the floor.

10 a.m.

Conservative

Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON

Madam Chair, there's a vote now.

10 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin

Yes, we have to go and vote.

I have no choice but to adjourn the meeting. There is no point in making our witnesses wait because we would only come back for five minutes.

I am sorry and thank you very much for sharing your ideas with us this morning.

10:05 a.m.

Acting Vice-President, Learning Programs, Canada School of Public Services

10:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin

We are probably going to contact you to see if you are able to join us at another committee meeting. It will more likely be after the holidays, since the House does not have a lot of sitting days left before it adjourns.

10:05 a.m.

Acting Vice-President, Learning Programs, Canada School of Public Services

Jean-François Fleury

We look forward to hearing from you.

10:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin

Thank you for your understanding.

10:05 a.m.

Acting Vice-President, Learning Programs, Canada School of Public Services

10:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin

Have a great day.

10:05 a.m.

Acting Vice-President, Learning Programs, Canada School of Public Services

10:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Marie-Claude Morin

Thank you.

That concludes our meeting.

(Meeting adjourned)