Brochure - Political Activities and You...

Non-partisanship

Non-partisanship is an essential element of a professional public service, as well as a key pillar of the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA).

Upholding the non-partisan nature of the public service is the responsibility of all public servants.

The PSEA recognizes your right to engage in political activities. However, those activities must not impair, or be perceived as impairing, your ability to perform your public service duties in a politically impartial manner.

Political Activities

Under the PSEA, a political activity is defined as:

• Any activity in support of, within or in opposition to, a political party;
• Any activity in support of, or in opposition to, a candidate before or during an election period; or
• Seeking nomination as, or being, a candidate in an election before or during the election period.

To assess whether a particular political activity not related to your own candidacy could impair, or be perceived as impairing, your ability to perform your duties in a politically impartial manner, you are invited to:

• Consult the PSC Web site to access important and helpful information, including the Guidance Document for Participating in Non-Candidacy Political Activities, the Frequently Asked Questions, the Political Activities Self-Assessment Tool and the Political Activities Quiz.
• Consider factors such as the nature of the activity, the nature of your duties within your organizational context and the level and visibility of your position;
• Seek advice from your manager, your organization’s DPAR and the PSC.

Please note that activities that do not fall under the PSEA’s definition of a political activity may be subject to the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector or to your organization’s code of conduct.

Candidacy

Each time you wish to seek nomination or be a candidate, and before making public your intention to be a candidate or undertaking candidacy related activities, you must first request and obtain permission from the PSC.

For federal, provincial or territorial elections, you must also request, and be granted, a leave of absence without pay (LWOP) from the PSC during the election period. Your permission will also be conditional on a LWOP if you plan to conduct campaigning activities before the election period. You will cease to be an employee of the federal public service on the day you are elected.

For municipal elections, the PSC may make the permission conditional on you being on LWOP before or during the election period and, if you are elected, being on LWOP for the duration of your mandate or ceasing to be an employee. Otherwise, if the PSC has determined that there is no risk, real or perceived, to political impartiality, you could continue to work as a public service employee.

When reviewing your request, the PSC will consider such factors as the nature of the election, the nature of your duties within your organizational context and the level and visibility of your position.

You should submit your request for candidacy permission and all necessary information as early as possible, taking into consideration the deadline to register as a candidate and the election date. The PSC will render its decision within 30 days following receipt of all requested information required for the analysis of your request.

Improper Political Activity

Anyone may bring forward to the PSC an allegation of improper political activity by a public service employee. If the investigation establishes that there was improper political activity, the PSC may take any corrective action deemed appropriate.

For additional information, you may contact your organization’s Designated Political Activities Representative (DPAR); or consult the Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC):

Web site: www.cfp-psc.gc.ca/politicalactivities
E-mail: cfp.activitespolitiques-politicalactivities.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca
Toll-free number: 1-866-707-7152