LHHR 15-09: Reference List update – Organizations' statutory links with the Public Service Commission and the Public Service Employment Act

2015-07-14

This letter is to inform you of the amendments that were recently made to the Public Service Commission (PSC) Reference List following legislative changes that have impacted the mobility of certain categories of persons or organizations.

Veterans Hiring Act (VHA): This Act amended the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) in order to provide increased access to hiring opportunities in the public service for serving and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Thus, certain serving and former members of the CAF are now eligible to apply to advertised internal appointment processes open to employees and to persons employed in the public service. You will find more information regarding the amendments mandated by the VHA on GCPedia.

Designation of the Government of Nunavut as part of the public service: Since June 2015, the Government of Nunavut is included in the portion of the federal public administration designated by the Governor in Council. Consequently, employees of the Government of Nunavut can participate in advertised internal appointment processes that are open to “persons employed in the public service,” in accordance with subsection 35(2) of the PSEA. These persons cannot be deployed to organizations whose appointments are made in accordance with the PSEA.

Creation of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station: The applied title of this separate agency, created on June 1, 2015, is Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR). It replaces the Canadian Polar Commission. This organization has its own appointment authority and is not subject to the PSEA. However, its enabling legislation provides that employees of POLAR are eligible to apply to internal appointment processes and can be deployed to organizations whose appointments are made in accordance with the PSEA.

Establishment of the Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS): This Parliamentary body was established on June 23, 2015, following Royal Assent of the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No.1. In accordance with section 35.3 of the PSEA, persons employed in PPS may participate in an advertised appointment process that is open to employees of the public service as long as they meet the other area of selection criteria.

For more information on the organizations’ statutory link with the PSC and the PSEA, please consult the PSC Reference List.

Should you or your corporate staffing consultant require additional information, please contact your organization’s strategic staffing consultant.