Public service notebook: Federal government gets extension to develop pay equity plans for staff

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From pay equity plans to diplomatic appointments, here are four federal public service updates you need to know.

1. Government gets an extension to develop pay equity plans for staff
2. Union holding remote work rally on Thursday
3. New diplomatic appointments are made
4. Canada Research Chair to release book on federal public service

1. Government gets an extension to develop pay equity plans for staff

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The federal government was expected to deliver pay equity plans for core public servants and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in just two weeks. After applying for extensions, those deadlines have been significantly pushed back.

Employees making up the core public administration can now expect to see their plan by Aug. 31, 2027. The government is expected to post the RCMP’s plan by Feb. 28, 2026.

“As the country’s largest employer and service provider, implementing pay equity for over 270,000 public servants in the CPA, including 21,000 members of the RCMP, is a historic and unique effort to address the pay gap,” a Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat news release read. “These extensions will allow the committees to complete their important work under the Pay Equity Act and ensure we get this right.”

The release said employees entitled to pay bumps as a result of the pay equity plans would have the funds backdated to the original Sept. 4 deadline.

In a news release in July, the Public Service Alliance of Canada said it was disappointed that the Treasury Board had asked for the extension.

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“Since the passing of the Pay Equity Act in 2021, Treasury Board has dragged its feet and used most of the past three years to undermine the intent of the law by applying for three separate pay equity plans — which PSAC strongly opposed — divided between occupational groups represented by each federal union,” the release said. “Pay equity needs to be a priority for the federal government, and PSAC will continue to pressure them to respect the Pay Equity Act and work to close the gender wage gap in Canada and the federal public service.”

2. Union holding remote work rally on Thursday

Next month, federal public servants are expected to return to the office at least three days a week. Ahead of the switch, the Canadian Association of Professional Employees Local 522 was to host a “rally for remote work rights” on Thursday.

According to CAPE’s website, the rally would include members from several unions, including the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the Association of Canadian Financial Officers and the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers.

“Join us to push back on unfair and unreasonable return-to-office policies and to win telework rights and to show your support and solidarity with colleagues across the federal public sector,” the website stated.

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The rally was scheduled to take place at the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada building at 365 Laurier Ave. from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday.

3. New diplomatic appointments are made

Last week, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly announced four new diplomatic appointments.

Emily Burns was named the high commissioner in the United Republic of Tanzania, replacing Kyle Nunas.

Véronique Pepin-Hallé was named the ambassador and permanent representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Vienna, Austria, replacing Jocelyn Kinnear.

Pasquale Salvaggio is the new high commissioner in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and permanent representative of Canada to the Economic Community of West African States, replacing James Christoff.

Stewart Wheeler is now the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Argentine Republic, replacing Reid Sirrs.

4. Canada Research Chair to release book on federal public service

A new book about the challenges within Canada’s federal public service is being released in September.

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Titled Speaking Truth to Canadians about Their Public Service, the 330-page book is written by Donald J. Savoie, Canada Research Chair in Public Administration and Governance at the Université de Moncton.

According to the McGill-Queen’s University Press, the book offers “a comprehensive review of the challenges confronting the public service, how the relationship between politicians and career officials has evolved in recent years, and what motivates public servants” and “concludes with practical recommendations to assist Canadians and their politicians in defining what they want their public service to be.”

The book will be published on Sept. 10.

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