While Budget 2018 had announced $1.7 billion of new funding for science research, federal scientists were not quick to rejoice, as much of the money allotted was in direct responses to the findings of Canada’s Fundamental Science Review, which completely ignored government science and its pool of public science talents. Once again, the 2019-20 Budget is no different than the last one when comes to significant new funding for public science.  

Canadians who care about public science have had some good news to celebrate since the election of the Trudeau government. It started with protections for scientific integrity and the government’s agreement with PIPSC, the union representing its scientists, to enshrine those rights in collective agreements and government policies. It continued to engage in replenishing the ranks of federal scientists, engineers and researchers over the past three years by hiring 1,500 positions in an attempt to fill the science gap left by the previous government’s waves of cuts.

On broader science issues, PIPSC salutes that Budget 2019 is also moving in the right direction for science students. Students receiving federal research grants will now be able to benefit from parental leave under EI. Federal granting councils will also be able to expand parental leave coverage from 6 to 12 months for fellows and post-docs.

But most Canadians would be disappointed to learn that actual spending on government research and development (R&D) is lower today than it was under the Harper government. While overall funding of science has increased from $10.4 billion in 2015-16 to $11.3 billion in 2018-19,^[1] actual spending on federal government science was projected to be $112 million lower in 2018-19 than in 2014-15.^[2] Spending on R&D by government scientists declined by $891 million compared to 2010-11 under the Harper government.^[3]

The federal government’s actions in recent years imply that its role is less about participating in basic research and regulatory science, and more about channeling federal science money to the private sector and universities with the hope of stimulating innovation.

This strategy misses the mark.

Think about some of the most fundamental needs of Canadians and our economy. We rely on public scientists to ensure the safety of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we consume. As our communities grapple with the impact of climate change, the importance of public scientific capacity cannot be overstated. And yet, with a couple of small exceptions, basic research and government regulatory science are mostly absent from Budget 2019.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health Canada and Transport Canada are getting a total of $219.1 million over five years pertaining to the consolidated regulatory roadmap, though the announcement remains vague. New processes involving the digitalization of CFIA regulation work and standards could impact the work of our food-safety scientists. They should be consulted on these changes so their important service to Canadians is not disrupted.

Another glimmer of hope is the establishment of a new Strategic Science Fund, scheduled for 2022-23 after lengthy consultation with third-party research and non-government science organizations. The commitment remains vulnerable to the results of the next election. Should the government push ahead with a strategic funding agenda in the coming years, public scientists should be at the centre of these consultations.

Whether it’s R&D or science-based regulation, PIPSC believes there is a need for Canadians to have increased access to public science. The dangerous trend of underfunding public science should be and can be turned around. The Chief Science Advisor must develop metrics to assess and report on the government’s scientific capacity.

As the union representing 15,000 public service scientists, PIPSC is ready to help.

Maxime Gingras,

Research Officer, PIPSC

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Over 15,000 federal scientists are represented by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC). These scientists are tasked with protecting, among other things, the health and safety of Canadian food, water, transportation systems, buildings and consumer products. They also protect the environment and promote the vitality of our economy through innovations in science and technology.

On April 2nd, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) held its first-ever Indigenous Lobby Day on Parliament Hill, which was the first in Canadian labour history.

The CLC had 129 participants from 21 different union affiliates meeting with 78 Members of Parliament and Senators on Parliament Hill.  

Settler and Indigenous advocates alike stood together to call for:

Issue 1: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Inquiry

Issue 2: Access to Clean Drinking Water on Reserves

Issue 3: Honouring Residential School Children and Indigenous Education

Issue 4: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Our PIPSC lobby team of Steve Malenfant, Cheryl Morris, Charlotte Young, Tammy Okemaysim, Jordon Loverock, Greg Scriver, Kimberley Skanes (Atlantic Regional Director) and Norma Domey (Vice President) were in attendance. Our members are invested in Truth and Reconciliation and are passionate about equity and justice for Indigenous Peoples. 

Thank you to PIPSC’s CLC Indigenous Representative Greg Scriver, who helped coordinate, co-lead and organize this historical first-ever CLC Indigenous lobby day in collaboration with the CLC’s Anti-Racism and Human Rights Director Mojdeh Cox. This is important solidarity work and will continue until justice and equity is achieved.

On Wednesday April 10th, PIPSC members from across the country came together to participate in a central bargaining webinar with President Debi Daviau and Director of National Labour Relations Richard Beaulé.

If you weren’t able to tune in or you’d like to watch it again, the webinar is now available online.

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This online training session provides an overview of our central bargaining proposals, our Do Better campaign and strategies to ensure conditions to win at the negotiation table.

Our public service is the best in the world. You give your best at home and in your community. Every day you challenge yourself to do better.

Isn’t it time for your employer to do the same?

Zul Nanji is a retired International Tax Auditor with the CRA. Originally from Kenya, Zul has been working in international taxation since he moved to Ottawa in 1992, and was a tax auditor with the government for 35 years.

“I love getting information and learning, and I thought public service was good place to start as a job,” says Zul.

His knack for puzzle solving was a perfect fit, as he spent his career working with other countries and governments to analyze and assess inconsistencies in corporate tax claims.
 

“We look at taxes as a game – you win some, you lose some. And it’s with the big companies that you want to win. We try and find things that they’ve done wrong.”

But why is that important? Zul knows that “as Canadians, we should all be concerned that everyone pays their fair share of taxes.”

“It’s not fair that a big corporation can transfer millions of dollars out of the country without paying tax and claiming it as an expense, and then bring the money back into the country as a loan or a gift, and not have to pay the tax,” says Zul. “They made all that money in Canada, and they should pay their share.”

It's not just a question of fairness – Zul also knows what's at risk if the CRA doesn't crack down on these fraud or illegal cases. “You can tell your representatives in government what you want, and if there's taxes – great – but if there's no money or funding, guess what, it's not happening, or we're running a deficit and your children and grandchildren are paying for it.”

The files and cases Zul worked on had major implications for Canadians, as his efforts helped to level the playing field for Canadian businesses competing with international imports.

He is incredibly proud to have represented Canada's interests in an international forum. “I used to attend meetings overseas and make sure all the technical issues discussed at the table with all the countries in the world were what's best for Canada and in the interest of Canada.”

And Zul knows it’s critical that the services CRA provides are publicly delivered.

“Here in the CRA, we’re not interested in the profit aspect of anything. We’re interested in doing public service,” Zul says. “We’re trying to make sure that everybody pays their fair share, so you get all your schools, hospitals and all your social services provided for you.” Even in his retirement, Zul is keeping up with public service – volunteering to help seniors with their taxes in Ottawa.
 

This week members across the country are holding events in their workplaces to call on the federal government to Do Better on family leave. Lunch & learns, information sessions and family events are bringing members together to show strength and solidarity with the Central Bargaining Team.

Members are also joining webinar trainings on Wednesday, April 10^th for a central bargaining update from President Debi Daviau and Director of National Labour Relations Richard Beaulé.

It is not too late to join a webinar.

English Session: 11:00 – 11:30 AM (Eastern Daylight Time. Looking for your time zone?)

RSVP

French Session: 12:30 – 1:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time. Looking for your time zone?)

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English Session: 3:00 – 3:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time. Looking for your time zone?)

RSVP

Our public service is the best in the world. You give your best at home and in your community. Every day you challenge yourself to do better.

Isn’t it time for your employer to do the same?

The Canadian Labour Congress has released a must-read report on Islamophobia in the workplace. Islamophobia at Work: Challenges and Opportunities explores the rise of anti-Muslim attitudes and discrimination in Canada. It provides recommendations for employers, trade unions, and governments on how to address this pernicious phenomenon.

The report comes just weeks after the horrific terrorist attack at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Those attacks were a stark reminder of the urgency of addressing Islamophobia in our communities.

There has been a steady rise in hate crimes targeting Muslim communities in Canada over the past several years. In 2017, a young man consumed by hatred killed six men attending prayers at a Québec City mosque. His name was even cited by the New Zealand terrorist. 

That same year, reported hate crimes targeting Muslims rose by 151 percent across the country, which is alarming since many such crimes are often not reported due to a fear of backlash and reprisal. Meanwhile, members of far-right groups continue to mobilize online and offline, organizing anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rallies which further demonize these communities.

This report aims to address the impact of this harmful climate on Canadian workplaces with specific recommendations aimed at reinforcing the responsibility of employers to educate management and staff about legal obligations around human rights and religious accommodations. It further encourages governments to do more to support anti-racism awareness campaigns and develop strategies to address online hate. According to the report, trade unions must play an important role in championing fairness, equity and social justice for Muslims in Canada.

As a champion of the Joint Union/Management Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion, PIPSC contributed to the development of the report Building a Diverse and Inclusive Public Service, which makes recommendations to identify and address barriers to racialized people joining and advancing in the public service, and contributing their talents to serve Canadians. We continue to encourage the Treasury Board Secretariat to implement each of these recommendations as soon as possible.

We at PIPSC join the collective labour movement in denouncing all Islamophobia and racism and encourage our members to take part in anti-harassment and inclusiveness initiatives in their workplaces. We are now at the bargaining table fighting for stronger anti-harassment measures to ensure the public service is a safe and healthy workplace for everyone.

If you have any questions, please contact the Human Rights Committee, chrd-cdpd@pipsc.ca.

The PIPSC Central Table Bargaining Team met with Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) representatives from March 26 - 28, 2019. The two parties are beginning to narrow their focus.

The parties discussed a number of proposals and received presentations from two external groups. Specifically, representatives from Treasury Board and Public Services and Procurement Canada presented their proposed methodology to calculate retroactive payments in an effort to avoid the Phoenix related issues caused by the implementation of our last contracts.

The second presentation was by PIPSC representatives from the Domestic Violence PIPSC-TBS Joint Committee tasked with studying the best way for the employer to support employees affected by domestic violence. The presentation included powerful testimony of a survivor from within our membership.

PIPSC research staff presented the Treasury Board a detailed analysis of various situations under QPIP (Québec Parental Insurance Plan) and EI (Employment Insurance) to identify inequities in the various parental leave provisions to be addressed. The two sides engaged in significant discussions related to addressing harassment in the workplace.

Discussions will continue on all of these issues at our next bargaining session scheduled for April 24 - 25, 2019. Your comments and support of the Do Better campaign are greatly appreciated.

We invite you to continue building momentum by participating in the upcoming week of action.

Join an event

PIPSC Central Bargaining Team members:
Robert Scott (Bargaining Coordinator), CS
Louis Poirier (Communications Officer), NRC-RO/RCO
Mehran Alaee, RE
Adam Fenwick, SH
Stéphanie Fréchette, CFIA-S&A
Dale Hudson, NR
Kim McGuire, AV
Elizabeth Ptasznik, SP
Robert Trudeau, AFS
Suzelle Brosseau and Pierre Ouellet, PIPSC negotiators

The Chief Science Advisor of Canada, Dr. Mona Nemer, recently released her 2018 Annual Report, in which she highlights the close working relationship she enjoys with the Professional Institute.

Dr. Nemer is particularly proud of our joint work on the Model Policy on Scientific Integrity, which provides a framework for science-based decision-making in the federal government, and guidelines for the unmuzzled public discussion of the research our members are conducting.

As the Report elegantly summarizes: “Communication of science is vital to ensuring an informed citizenry and healthy and engaged society.  It underpins our democratic processes.  Yet moving science from the field or lab and into the public discourse requires considerable time, effort and resources. It is important that researchers understand their obligations to convey the results of their work and participate in public dissemination of their research”.

The Chief Science Advisor is also committed to supporting the federal science workforce on matters of critical importance to thousands of PIPSC members: “(…) significant effort will be required to chart workforce dynamics, bring disparate information sources together, and collect new qualitative and quantitative information for developing effective strategies for workforce renewal, ensuring equity, and supporting career and continuous skills development”.

PIPSC is honoured to work with Dr. Nemer and her staff.  We look forward to many more years of fruitful collaboration on issues of vital interest not only to our members, but to all Canadians.

With the 2018 tax season upon us, it is critical for PIPSC members to have accurate information as they prepare to file their tax returns. Unfortunately, Phoenix has caused innumerable pay errors for tens of thousands of our members. 

The government publishes a substantial amount of online material about Phoenix and taxes. Please see the following Treasury Board and Canada Revenue Agency web pages for guidance should you have any questions about your specific pay and tax situation:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/frequently-asked-questions-tax-implications-phoenix-payroll-issues.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/complaints-disputes/taxpayer-relief-provisions.html

https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/remuneration-compensation/services-paye-pay-services/centre-presse-media-centre/mise-a-jour-trop-paye-overpayment-update-eng.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/pay/submit-claim-fees-tax-advisory-services.html

https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/remuneration-compensation/services-paye-pay-services/centre-presse-media-centre/index-eng.html

PIPSC members are reminded that the government has implemented a program that provides for the reimbursement of up to $200 per year for tax advice linked to a Phoenix issue. The government is encouraging its employees to contact their departmental claims officer if they have any questions in this regard and is evaluating each situation on a case by case basis, so our members are encouraged to look into this initiative even if they have incurred more than that amount in seeking the help of a tax expert to address a Phoenix-related matter.

PIPSC members can also call on our Phoenix specialists if they are experiencing pay problems. Our team can be reached at https://www.pipsc.ca/news-issues/phoenix-pay-system/phoenix-help-form. Please visit the PIPSC web page at https://www.pipsc.ca/news-issues/phoenix-pay-system for more information about Phoenix and what the Institute has been doing to support its members throughout the crisis.