OTTAWA – New Democrats have announced a comprehensive action plan to protect the integrity of our public services.

“Canada is a country of peace, order and good government – Canadian values that Conservatives have undermined” said Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre). “Good governance begins with building a relationship of trust and respect between public service employees and the political leadership.”

“Despite promising to end Liberal-style scandals, Harper years have been defined by partisan meddling in the professional work of public service employees” said Nycole Turmel (Hull-Aylmer). “From the Oda affair and blocking access to information to attacks on the integrity of individual public service employees and the failed Integrity Commissioner, Conservatives have insulted the Public Service and its valued employees.”

The New Democrat plan will:

1. End partisan meddling in professional public service by establishing a code of conduct for ministerial staff, capping partisan appointments of “special advisors” and establishing merit-based public appointments.
2. Respect Public Service employees by improving legislative protection for whistleblowers and strengthening oversight of the Integrity Commissioner.
3. Create real public service jobs instead of relying on temporary help services; modernize hiring mechanisms in consultation with employee unions and managers.

“The National Capital Region needs more New Democrats to support the public service and protect jobs,” said Françoise Boivin (Gatineau). “Unlike the Bloc which doesn't want to hire young people to replace retiring civil servants, we need strong MPs who will fight against Conservative cuts.”

Background:

End partisan meddling in professional public service:

Despite promising to end Liberal-style scandals, Harper years have been defined by partisan meddling in the professional work of public service employees. Bev Oda was found in contempt of Parliament when she misled Canadians about the advice she had received from her department. A Ministerial staff person has been under RCMP investigation for blocking access to information. The long-form census was cancelled despite recommendations against it by StatsCan.

In the next parliament, New Democrats will:

Establish a code of conduct for Ministerial staff: Canada should adopt a code of conduct for Ministerial staff, similar to what’s been established in the UK and Australia, setting out clear standards of behaviour. This code should address such issues as staff suppression of advice to Ministers, the appropriate boundary between partisan and government communications, and the frustration of legislatively mandated activities by public servants (such as enforcing Access to Information legislation).

Cut back on partisan patronage in public service: Eliminate the legislative provisions allowing the appointment of unlimited numbers of “special advisers” to Ministers, as recommended by the Public Service Commissioner in March 2011.

Establish merit-based appointments: Ensure that all Governor-in-Council appointments to senior public-service positions, agencies and boards are based entirely on merit and subject to independent oversight by the Appointments Commissioner. An Appointments Commissioner was created under Accountability Act when Dewar’s amendment was adopted by the committee in 2006. Despite spending a million dollars a year on the office of the Appointments Commissioner, the Conservatives never appointed the commissioner.  

Integrity in public service:

When Richard Colvin appeared before a parliamentary committee to shed light on Conservatives’ knowledge of torture in Afghanistan, he faced personal attacks by Conservative ministers. Respected human rights advocate and the president of Rights and Democracy Rémy Beauregard faced baseless allegations from Conservative appointees, even after his death. Conservatives broke their promise of protecting public service employees when they speak truth to power.

In the next parliament, New Democrats will:

Improve legislative protection for whistleblowers and public service employees whose expert opinion clashes with government’s views:  In contrast to the present Act, the onus must be on the employer to prove no retaliation occurred against a whisteblower because of the lodging of a complaint.  All whistleblowers must be allowed to report to the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner. The Commissioner must be empowered to conduct regular audits of compliance and investigate whistleblower complaints. If another enforcement agency has jurisdiction but fails to act within 90 days, the Commissioner must investigate the complaint.  The Commissioner must have the power to order chief executives to take corrective action and impose fines, suspensions or firing in case of non-compliance. Whistleblowers must receive adequate funding for legal advice, as well as financial compensation for losses arising from their lodging of a complaint.

Strengthen oversight of the Integrity Commissioner: Parliament should regularly oversee the work of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner. The Auditor General should conduct regular audits of the effectiveness of the Office of the Commissioner in performing its mandated responsibilities. 

Create real public service jobs:

A growing reliance on temporary help services has meant higher expenditure and higher turn-over in public service. Employees do not receive full benefits and Treasury Board regulations to improve diversity in public service are undermined.

In the next parliament, New Democrats will:

Modernize the hiring mechanism: A major cause of outsourcing is managers’ frustration at the long delays in hiring critically needed personnel. In consultation with employee unions and managers, the hiring mechanism needs to be modernized to speed up hiring while respecting accountability and achieving Treasury Board targets for diversity.

Direct expenditure cuts at contract spending: As part of deficit reduction, the government has put a cap on departments’ operational budgets for 2010-11. But there are no plans to reduce expenditures on outsourcing. Reducing outsourcing spending should be pursued by the federal government as an ideal way to contain costs while maintaining services.