How Ottawa Works:

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How Ottawa Works Public Service of Canada
Michael Wernick Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council
and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet
Carleton Initiative for Parliamentary and
Diplomatic Engagement
January 20, 2016
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Objectives

• To provide an overview of the Public Service of
  Canada
• The Public Service of Canada has a long history,
  but is also a dynamic and evolving institution,
  moving toward the Blueprint 2020 vision
• It delivers quality programs and services to
  Canadians and evidence-based advice to government
• While the Public Service is not perfect, the
  institution is values-based and seeks continuous
  improvement
• In our Westminster system, the Public Service is
  part of the Executive Branch of Government, but
  assists Parliamentarians

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The Public Service matters

• The Public Service of Canada is a world-class
  institution, capable of skillfully anticipating
  and responding to the evolving needs of Canadians
  and the Government they elect
• It is essential to our Westminster model of
  governance
• It is also a key advantage for Canada

A strong, merit-based, non-partisan and
representative public service is essential to
this countrys successand indeed to the success
of any democratic society His Excellency the
Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General
of Canada February 27, 2015
Our ability, as a government, to successfully
implement our platform depends on our ability to
thoughtfully consider the professional,
non-partisan advice of public servants.
Each and every time a government employee comes
to work, they do so in service to Canada, with a
goal of improving our country and the lives of
all Canadians The Right Honourable Justin
Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada November 13,
2015 (ministerial mandate letters)
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A proud tradition

• The fundamentals do not change
• We are professional and non-partisan each
  successive Government of Canada can be confident
  that it will be served loyally and competently
• Key features of the Westminster system are
  ensuring continuity between Governments, and then
  the peaceful and effective transfer of power
• Our non-partisanship is inseparable for our
  respect for the democratic mandate of the
  Government
• We work in the public interest citizens can
  trust that Canadas Public Service will provide
  fearless advice and deliver sound programs and
  services
• We ensure sound stewardship we protect public
  assets for the benefit of present and future
  generations
• We deliver results we ensure efficient and
  effective use of public resources to achieve
  timely results

Enduring Values Values and Ethics Code for the
Public Sector Respect for Democracy ? Respect for
People Integrity ? Stewardship ? Excellence
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Canadas federal Public Service
The Federal Public Service (FPS) refers to the
Core Public Administration (CPA) organizations
for which the Treasury Board is the employer
and separate agencies (principally the Canada
Revenue Agency, Parks Canada, the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency and the National Research
Council Canada)
FPS 257,100
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People Who are we?
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People (continued)
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Structure
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Service delivery Three primary channels of
service
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Service delivery Federal regulatory oversight

• 869 TESTS/ANALYSES PERFORMED ANNUALLY BY CANADA
  FOOD INSPECTION LABORATORIES
• 7.9K INSPECTIONS AND 121 INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED
  AND REPORTED ON BY ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
  CANADA TO ENFORCE REGULATIONS UNDER THE CANADIAN
  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT AND THE FISHERIES
  ACT (2013-2014)
• 8K FACILITIES ACROSS CANADA ARE REQUIRED BY
  ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE CANADA TO MONITOR
  USES, RELEASES AND DISPOSAL OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES

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Service delivery High volumes
THE CBSA WELCOMED CLOSE TO 100M LAWFUL TRAVELLERS
AND CLEARED MORE THAN 14M COMMERCIAL RELEASES
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Legal frameworks

• Key Legislation
• Financial Administration Act (1951) shapes
  virtually all aspects of government management
  through the powers it grants to the Treasury
  Board to oversee departments and other
  organizations and sets out the organizations
  that comprise the core public administration and
  separate employers (e.g. Canada Revenue Agency
  Canada Border Services Agency, Parks Canada
  Agency, etc.)
• Public Service Modernization Act (2003)
  significant reforms of human resources management
  (flexible staffing framework collaborative
  labour-management relations accountabilities for
  deputy heads and managers)
• Public Service Employment Act (2005) legal
  framework for a professional and non-partisan
  public service
• Federal Accountability Act (2006) clarifies the
  deputy head role in management of resources and
  internal controls

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Structure of the Public Service

• Key Features
• Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS)
  supports the Treasury Board in its role as the
  general manager and employer of the public
  service (responsible for collective bargaining
  and the policy framework)
• Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer
  part of TBS, supports a high-quality workforce
  and workplace (compensation labour relations
  diversity performance talent management, etc.)
• Public Service Commission independent agent of
  Parliament that safeguards the staffing system
  and the political neutrality of public servants
• Head of the Public Service (as per s.126 of the
  PSEA) leadership role of the Clerk in advancing
  the management agenda and renewal and reporting
  annually on the state of the public service
• Departments Deputy Heads are designated
  accounting officers and have the primary
  responsibility for financial and human resources
  management in their organizations

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A history of continuous renewal
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The Blueprint 2020 vision
A world class public service equipped to serve
Canada and Canadians now and into the future

• Blueprint 2020 Engagement by the numbers
• More than 110,000 public servants participated in
  engagement activities across the Public Service
  in 2013-14
• 85 departments and agencies and 30 networks and
  communities took part (reports to Clerk)
• Over 44,400 tweets have included the GC2020
  hashtag
• Rate of user growth on GCconnex since the launch
  of Blueprint 2020 is 500
• More than 225,200 views of the Blueprint 2020
  vision document on the Clerks website (October
  2015)

• Four Guiding Principles
• An open and networked environment that engages
  citizens and partners for the public good
  together with
• A whole-of-government approach that enhances
  service delivery and value for money
  enabled by
• A modern workplace that makes smart use of new
  technologies to improve networking, access to
  data and customer service and
• A capable, confident and high-performing
  workforce that embraces new ways of working and
  mobilizing the diversity of talent to serve the
  countrys evolving needs

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The Clerks Annual Report March 2015

• Three priority areas for action
• Reinvigorating recruitment, learning and
  development
• Need to recruit individuals with the skills and
  competencies we will need in the next era, and
  reinforce learning and development
• Building a healthy, respectful and supportive
  work environment
• Mental health challenges are a reality need to
  create the space for open and stigma-free
  dialogue and focus on preventing harm, promoting
  health and resilience, and addressing incidents
  or concerns
• Reinforcing the policy community as a profession
• Need to ensure that the Public Service can
  continue to provide world-class, timely advice to
  Government, recognizing the increasing
  expectation from citizens and stakeholders to
  engage

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Accountability

• The Public Service is part of the Executive
  Branch every organization is the responsibility
  of a Minister who is accountable to Parliament
• Parliamentary Committees public servants may
  accompany a Minister, or act as their
  representative, to assist Parliamentary
  Committees examining legislation, policy, and
  expenditures
• Committees can request production of persons and
  documents
• Deputy heads are designated accounting officers
  for their organizations, being accountable before
  Committees, and being required to provide
  information and explanations to assist Parliament
  in holding the government to account
• Parliamentary Questions Members of Parliament
  can file written Order Paper questions
• Officers of Parliament there are more than a
  dozen Officers of Parliament with varying
  mandates and powers to hold the Executive Branch
  to account through examinations and reports
• Reporting to Parliament each organization
  produces a spring report on its plans and a fall
  report on performance and results
• most post quarterly financial statements and
  numerous program reports and dashboards
• Proactive Disclosure travel and hospitality,
  contracts, and grants and contributions are
  routinely posted

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Interaction with Members of Parliament

• Several avenues
• Parliamentary Committees public servants appear
  as witnesses
• Constituent Issues liaison on cases and
  transactions related to programs and services
• Many high-volume organizations have specific MP
  liaison desks, phone lines, or portals
  (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  Passport Canada Service Canada Canada Revenue
  Agency)
• Student Employment summer and co-op employment
  opportunities (Public Service Commission)
• Official Responses responses to Order Paper
  questions and correspondence

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Annex A Useful contacts

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  www.cic.gc.ca
• Dedicated contact information for MPs
  613-948-8777 or mpverbalenquiries_at_cic.gc.ca
• Passport Canada Portal for Members of Parliament
  www.pptc.gc.ca/parl/
• Service Canada www.servicecanada.gc.ca
• Regional Enquiries Units (REUs) Atlantic
  1-855-445-3211 Ontario 1-855-215-7575 (EI)
  / 1-877-233-6061 (CPP OAS) Quebec
  1-888-536-5633 Ext 301 (EI) / 1-866-692-2800 Ext
  3001 (CPP OAS) Western Canada and Territories
  1-866-252-9927
• Canada Revenue Agency
  www.cra-arc.gc.ca
• Problem Resolution Program (PRP) helps to resolve
  taxpayer problems when normal channels have been
  unsuccessful information kits with dedicated
  contacts provided to MPs (November 2015)

• Privy Council Office www.pco-bcp.gc.ca
• Clerk of the Privy Council www.clerk.gc.ca
• Canada School of Public Service
  www.csps-efpc.gc.ca
• Shared Services Canada www.ssc-spc.gc.ca
• Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
  www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat
• Parliament of Canada www.parl.gc.ca
• Public Service Commission of Canada
  www.psc-cfp.gc.ca
• Official website for all Government of Canada
  jobs open to Canadians outside the public
  service www.jobs-emplois.gc.ca
• Canadian Public Policy Think Tanks
• Institute of Public Administration of Canada
  www.ipac.ca
• Institute on Governance www.iog.ca
• Public Policy Forum www.ppforum.ca

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