Canadian civil service
Encyclopedia
The Public Service of Canada is the staff, or bureaucracy
, of the federal government
of Canada
. Its function is to support the Canadian monarch, and to handle the hiring of employees for the federal government ministries. It is represented by the Governor General
, and the appointed ministry.
The public service
functions through departments, agencies, commissions, crown corporations
, and other federal organizations. Over 40% of the Public Service of Canada is located in the Ottawa
-Gatineau area, although there are staff in over 180 countries and 1,600 locations across Canada. It is also the nation's largest single employer.
, and delivering services that support Canadians.
. In 2007, there were approximately 200 departments (e.g., Health Canada
), agencies, commissions (e.g., Canadian Grain Commission
), boards (e.g., Veterans Review and Appeal Board
), councils (e.g., Canadian Judicial Council
) and crown corporations (e.g., Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
).
A typical department is headed by a minister
, which is a political position held usually by a member of parliament, and who is a member of the Cabinet
. The senior civil servant in a department is usually titled as Deputy Minister
(given the title of Deputy Head). These officials are responsible for all on-going operations within their department, while ministers are accountable
to parliament. Deputy heads report to the Clerk of the Privy Council
.
Under the Deputy Minister there will usually be three to five Assistant Deputy Ministers who oversee various broad aspects of the department (policy, administration, program implementation etc.). Within the jurisdiction of each Assistant Deputy Minister is usually two to five Directors-General who oversee more functional areas of each broad element of the department. Under Directors-General are Directors, who oversee various directorates, which are the core of any department. These directorates contain the ground level in each department and are the members of the public service who implement government decisions.
The area of selection varies greatly for positions and may be as limited to a specific urban area (e.g., the Lower Mainland
of British Columbia
) or nation-wide (and in some cases global).
Since the 2003 enactment of the 2003 Public Service Modernization Act, competitions now focus less on a rules-based concept of best-qualified, and more on a values-based approach that supposedly allows managers to hire qualified and competent individuals more quickly.
Civil servants in Canada are not contracted by an abstraction called "the state
," but rather are employed by the Canadian monarch, who personifies the state and "enjoys a general capacity to contract in accordance with the rule of ordinary law." Previously, prior to Dec. 31, 2005, some civil servants, such as police officers, were required by law to recite the Oath of Allegiance
before taking their posts. (Bureaucratic civil servants swear a different oath relating to fulfilment of duty and confidentiality.). However, this is no longer a requirement following the implementation of the Public Service Modernization Act.
Some organizations hirings are exempt from the Public Service Employment Act therefore hire independently:
As of September, 2006, there were approximately 454,000 members employed by the Canadian federal government, divided as follows:
Only those in the first three categories would be considered traditional civil servants.
There are approximately 100 distinctly different positions in the core civil service; most work in policy, operations or administrative functions. About 15% are scientists and professionals, 10% work in technical operations and 2.5% are executives.
About 42% of Canadian public servants work in the National Capital Region
(NCR) (Ottawa-Hull), 24% work elsewhere in Ontario
or Quebec
, 21% in Western Canada
, and 11% in Atlantic Canada
. Since the headquarters of most agencies are located in the NCR, about 72% of executives work in this area.
Canadian civil servants are also located in more than 180 countries (in the form of foreign service officers) and provide service in 1,600 locations in Canada.
Many Canadian civil servants are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada
. They negotiate a collective bargaining agreement for many civil servants..
in Canada.
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
, of the federal government
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Its function is to support the Canadian monarch, and to handle the hiring of employees for the federal government ministries. It is represented by the Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, and the appointed ministry.
The public service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
functions through departments, agencies, commissions, crown corporations
Crown corporations of Canada
Canadian Crown corporations are enterprises owned by the federal government of Canada , one of Canada's provincial governments or one of the territorial governments. Crown corporations have a long standing presence in the country and have been instrumental in the formation of the state...
, and other federal organizations. Over 40% of the Public Service of Canada is located in the Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
-Gatineau area, although there are staff in over 180 countries and 1,600 locations across Canada. It is also the nation's largest single employer.
Purpose
The purpose of the Canadian public service is to enact the will of the government. It does this through providing advice, implementing the priorities of the government, supporting Ministers of the CrownMinister of the Crown
Minister of the Crown is the formal constitutional term used in the Commonwealth realms to describe a minister to the reigning sovereign. The term indicates that the minister serves at His/Her Majesty's pleasure, and advises the monarch, or viceroy, on how to exercise the Crown prerogatives...
, and delivering services that support Canadians.
Structure
The chief public servant is the Clerk of the Queen's Privy CouncilClerk of the Privy Council (Canada)
The Clerk of the Privy Council is the senior civil servant in the Canadian government. The Title and Office is in fact "Clerk of the Privy Council and the Secretary to the Cabinet"...
. In 2007, there were approximately 200 departments (e.g., Health Canada
Health Canada
Health Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health.The current Minister of Health is Leona Aglukkaq, a Conservative Member of Parliament appointed to the position by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.-Branches, regions and agencies:Health Canada...
), agencies, commissions (e.g., Canadian Grain Commission
Canadian Grain Commission
The Canadian Grain Commission, also known as the CGC, is a Canadian government department responsible for regulation of the grain handling industry.The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food is responsible for the Canadian Grain Commission....
), boards (e.g., Veterans Review and Appeal Board
Veterans Review and Appeal Board
The Veterans Review and Appeal Board Canada is a Canadian government agency responsible for hearing reviews and appeals by disabled and War Veterans Allowance decisions by Veterans Affairs Canada. The Board assures the benefits entitled to members of the war veterans, Canadian Forces and members of...
), councils (e.g., Canadian Judicial Council
Canadian Judicial Council
The Canadian Judicial Council is a federal body created under the Judges Act , with the mandate to "promote efficiency, uniformity, and accountability, and to improve quality of judicial service in the superior courts of Canada". The Council is also mandated to review "any complaint or allegation"...
) and crown corporations (e.g., Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation is a Canadian federal Crown corporation which promotes and coordinates economic development throughout Cape Breton Island and adjacent areas in the eastern Nova Scotia town of Mulgrave....
).
A typical department is headed by a minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
, which is a political position held usually by a member of parliament, and who is a member of the Cabinet
Cabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...
. The senior civil servant in a department is usually titled as Deputy Minister
Deputy Minister (Canada)
In Canada, a deputy minister is the senior civil servant in a government department. He or she takes political direction from an elected minister. Responsibility for the department's day-to-day operations, budget and program development lie with the deputy minister...
(given the title of Deputy Head). These officials are responsible for all on-going operations within their department, while ministers are accountable
Accountability
Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving...
to parliament. Deputy heads report to the Clerk of the Privy Council
Clerk of the Privy Council
Clerk of the Privy Council can refer to:*Clerk of the Privy Council *Clerk of the Privy Council...
.
Under the Deputy Minister there will usually be three to five Assistant Deputy Ministers who oversee various broad aspects of the department (policy, administration, program implementation etc.). Within the jurisdiction of each Assistant Deputy Minister is usually two to five Directors-General who oversee more functional areas of each broad element of the department. Under Directors-General are Directors, who oversee various directorates, which are the core of any department. These directorates contain the ground level in each department and are the members of the public service who implement government decisions.
Hiring
Hiring (or selection) of civil servants is typically done through a competitive process that is either external (open) process or an internal (closed) process. External competitions are typically done to recruit a greater number of applicants. Conversely, internal competitions may be held for positions where there is considered to be adequate internal candidates and/or to provide opportunities for advancement within the civil service.The area of selection varies greatly for positions and may be as limited to a specific urban area (e.g., the Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
) or nation-wide (and in some cases global).
Since the 2003 enactment of the 2003 Public Service Modernization Act, competitions now focus less on a rules-based concept of best-qualified, and more on a values-based approach that supposedly allows managers to hire qualified and competent individuals more quickly.
Civil servants in Canada are not contracted by an abstraction called "the state
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
," but rather are employed by the Canadian monarch, who personifies the state and "enjoys a general capacity to contract in accordance with the rule of ordinary law." Previously, prior to Dec. 31, 2005, some civil servants, such as police officers, were required by law to recite the Oath of Allegiance
Oath of Allegiance (Canada)
The Canadian Oath of Allegiance is a promise or declaration of fealty to the Canadian monarch, taken, along with other specific oaths of office, by new occupants of various government positions, including federal and provincial viceroys, appointees to the Queen's Privy Council, Supreme Court...
before taking their posts. (Bureaucratic civil servants swear a different oath relating to fulfilment of duty and confidentiality.). However, this is no longer a requirement following the implementation of the Public Service Modernization Act.
Some organizations hirings are exempt from the Public Service Employment Act therefore hire independently:
- Atomic Energy of Canada LimitedAtomic Energy of Canada LimitedAtomic Energy of Canada Limited or AECL is a Canadian federal Crown corporation and Canada's largest nuclear science and technology laboratory...
- Bank of CanadaBank of CanadaThe Bank of Canada is Canada's central bank and "lender of last resort". The Bank was created by an Act of Parliament on July 3, 1934 as a privately owned corporation. In 1938, the Bank became a Crown corporation belonging to the Government of Canada...
- Business Development Bank of CanadaBusiness Development Bank of CanadaThe Business Development Bank of Canada is a crown corporation financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Canada. BDC plays a leadership role in delivering financial and consulting services to Canadian small business, with a particular focus on technology and exporting.BDC's debt...
- Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
- Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board
- Canada Council for the Arts
- Canada Deposit Insurance CorporationCanada Deposit Insurance Corporation-External links:*** Official CDIC site*...
- Canada Mortgage and Housing CorporationCanada Mortgage and Housing CorporationCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is a Crown corporation, owned by the Government of Canada, founded after World War II to provide housing for returning soldiers...
- Canada PostCanada PostCanada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
- Canada Revenue AgencyCanada Revenue AgencyThe Canada Revenue Agency is a federal agency that administers tax laws for the Government of Canada and for most provinces and territories, international trade legislation, and various social and economic benefit and incentive programs delivered through the tax system...
- Canada Science and Technology Museum CorporationCanada Science and Technology Museum CorporationThe Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation is a Canadian government Crown corporation responsible for preserving and protecting Canada's scientific and technological heritage and promoting and sharing that knowledge. The corporation oversees the Canada Agriculture Museum, the Canada...
- Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCanadian Broadcasting CorporationThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
- Canadian Commercial CorporationCanadian Commercial CorporationThe Canadian Commercial Corporation is a crown corporation of the Government of Canada that facilitates Canadian exports by negotiating and executing government-to-government contracts...
- Canadian Dairy CommissionCanadian Dairy CommissionThe Canadian Dairy Commission is a Canadian government Crown corporation created in 1966 under the Canadian Dairy Commission Act...
- Canadian Food Inspection AgencyCanadian Food Inspection AgencyThe Canadian Food Inspection Agency is a science based regulatory agency that is dedicated to the safeguarding of food, animals, and plants, which enhance the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy...
- Canadian Forces Personnel Support AgencyCanadian Forces Personnel Support AgencyThe Canadian Forces Personnel and Family Support Services , previously known as Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency , is responsible for administering non-public property on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff and delivering selected public morale and welfare...
- Canadian ForcesCanadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
- Canadian Institutes of Health ResearchCanadian Institutes of Health ResearchCanadian Institutes of Health Research is the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada. It is the successor to the Medical Research Council of Canada. It aims to create new health knowledge, and to translate that knowledge from the research setting into real world...
- Canadian Museum of CivilizationCanadian Museum of CivilizationThe Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's national museum of human history and the most popular and most-visited museum in Canada....
- Canadian Museum of NatureCanadian Museum of NatureThe Canadian Museum of Nature is a natural history museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Its collections, which were started by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1856, include all aspects of the intersection of human society and nature, from gardening to gene-splicing...
- Canadian Nuclear Safety CommissionCanadian Nuclear Safety CommissionThe Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission , previously known as the Atomic Energy Control Board , is the governmental nuclear power and materials watchdog in Canada...
- Canadian Polar CommissionCanadian Polar CommissionThe Canadian Polar Commission is a Canadian government agency of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada responsible for monitoring, promoting, and disseminating knowledge of the polar regions; contributing to public awareness of the importance of polar science to Canada; enhancing Canada's...
- Canadian Security Intelligence ServiceCanadian Security Intelligence ServiceThe Canadian Security Intelligence Service is Canada's national intelligence service. It is responsible for collecting, analyzing, reporting and disseminating intelligence on threats to Canada's national security, and conducting operations, covert and overt, within Canada and abroad.Its...
- Canadian Tourism CommissionCanadian Tourism CommissionThe Canadian Tourism Commission was created in 1995 to promote in order to capitalize on a major international industry.The CTC states that it "is dedicated to promoting the growth and profitability of the Canadian tourism industry by marketing Canada as a desirable travel destination and...
- Canadian Wheat BoardCanadian Wheat BoardThe Canadian Wheat Board was established by the Parliament of Canada on 5 July 1935 as a mandatory producer marketing system for wheat and barley in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and a small part of British Columbia...
- Communications Security EstablishmentCommunications Security EstablishmentThe Communications Security Establishment Canada is the Canadian government's national cryptologic agency. Administered under the Department of National Defence , it is charged with the duty of keeping track of foreign signals intelligence , and protecting Canadian government electronic...
- Defence Construction CanadaDefence Construction CanadaDefence Construction Canada is a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Canada.DCC was created in 1951 to help build massive defence infrastructure during the Cold War. It was notably involved in building the Distant Early Warning Line, and is now involved in decommissioning it. It also...
- Export Development CanadaExport Development CanadaExport Development Canada is Canada's export credit agency. It is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada, which provides financing and risk management services to Canadian exporters and investors in up to 200 markets worldwide, with spread across all provinces in Canada, and...
- Farm Credit CanadaFarm Credit CanadaFarm Credit Canada , or FCC, is Canada's largest agricultural term lender.This organization's purpose is to enhance rural Canada by providing specialized and personalized financial services to farming operations, including family farms...
- Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of CanadaFinancial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of CanadaFinancial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada gathers, analyzes, assesses, and discloses financial intelligence. Originally created in July 2000 to counter suspected money laundering, FINTRAC's mandate was expanded in December 2001 to provide the Canadian Security Intelligence...
- House of CommonsCanadian House of CommonsThe House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
- International Development Research CentreInternational Development Research CentreThe International Development Research Centre is a Canadian Crown Corporation created by the Parliament of Canada that supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development...
- Library of ParliamentLibrary of ParliamentThe Library of Parliament is the main information repository and research resource for the Parliament of Canada...
- National Arts CentreNational Arts CentreThe National Arts Centre is a centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa, Ontario, between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal...
- National Battlefields Commission
- National Capital CommissionNational Capital CommissionThe National Capital Commission , is a Canadian Crown corporation that administers the federally owned lands and buildings in Canada's National Capital Region, including Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.The NCC was created in 1959, replacing the Federal District Commission , which had been...
- National Film Board
- National Gallery of CanadaNational Gallery of CanadaThe National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
- National Round Table on the Environment and the EconomyNational Round Table on the Environment and the EconomyEmerging from the famous Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, the is a model for convening diverse and competing interests around one table to create consensus ideas and viable suggestions for sustainable development...
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Northern Pipeline Agency CanadaNorthern Pipeline Agency CanadaThe Northern Pipeline Agency Canada is a Canadian government agency currently under the purview of Natural Resources Canada, and under the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade until 2004...
- Office of the Auditor General of CanadaAuditor General of CanadaThe role of the Auditor General of Canada is to aid accountability by conducting independent audits of federal government operations. The Auditor General reports to the House of Commons, not to the government...
- Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner of Canada
- Parks CanadaParks CanadaParks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
- Royal Canadian MintRoyal Canadian MintThe Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
- Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
- Security Intelligence Review CommitteeSecurity Intelligence Review CommitteeThe Security Intelligence Review Committee is an independent agency of the government of Canada empowered to oversee and review the operations of Canada's security service, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and investigate complaints against CSIS...
- Senate
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Size and distribution
The public service has expanded over the years as population has grown, the number of services provided to Canadians has increased and with the introduction of new offices throughout the country. The service has also been reduced several times, often due to restraint programs designed to reduce the cost of the civil service.| Year | Size of Civil Service (CS) | national pop. | CS as a % of national pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | ~ 5,000 | ~ 8,500,000 | 0.05% |
| post-World War I World War I World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918... |
55,000 (1923) | ~ 13,500,000 | 0.41% |
| 1970 | 198,000 | 21,500,000 | 0.92% |
| 1975 | 273,000 | 23,400,000 | 1.2% |
| 1986 | 217,000 | 26,101,000 | 0.83% |
| 2008 | 263,000 | 32,248,000 | 0.82% |
As of September, 2006, there were approximately 454,000 members employed by the Canadian federal government, divided as follows:
- Federal departments: 180,000
- Federal agencies: 60,000
- Parliamentary officers and administrators: 20,000
- Canadian ForcesCanadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
and Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP): 106,000 - Federal business enterprises (including crown corporations): 88,000
Only those in the first three categories would be considered traditional civil servants.
There are approximately 100 distinctly different positions in the core civil service; most work in policy, operations or administrative functions. About 15% are scientists and professionals, 10% work in technical operations and 2.5% are executives.
About 42% of Canadian public servants work in the National Capital Region
National Capital Region (Canada)
The National Capital Region, also referred to as Canada's Capital Region, is an official federal designation for the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario, the neighbouring city of Gatineau, Quebec, and surrounding urban and rural communities....
(NCR) (Ottawa-Hull), 24% work elsewhere in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
or Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, 21% in Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
, and 11% in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
. Since the headquarters of most agencies are located in the NCR, about 72% of executives work in this area.
Canadian civil servants are also located in more than 180 countries (in the form of foreign service officers) and provide service in 1,600 locations in Canada.
Many Canadian civil servants are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada
Public Service Alliance of Canada
The Public Service Alliance of Canada is one of Canada’s largest national labour unions, with members in every province and territory. In fact, it is the biggest union in the Canadian Federal Public Sector...
. They negotiate a collective bargaining agreement for many civil servants..
Gender and ethnicity
The Canadian Civil Service has made significant efforts to reflect the gender balance, linguistic, and ethnic diversityMulticulturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
in Canada.
| Sub-group | Canadian Civil Service | Available Workforce |
|---|---|---|
| female | 53% | 52% |
| Francophone Francophone The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person.... |
32% | 24% |
| self-identified visible minorities | 8.1% | 10.4% |
| self-identified people with disabilities | 5.9% | 3.6% |
| aboriginal Aboriginal peoples in Canada Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative.... |
4.1% | 2.5% |
Historical timeline
- Before responsible governmentResponsible governmentResponsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
, Canada had no real civil service; government officials were appointed by either the CrownThe CrownThe Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
or its provincialProvinces and territories of CanadaThe provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
representatives. These officials usually served for an unspecified period ("during the pleasure of the Crown") for as long as they were deemed fit for the position. - 1849 - when responsible government began in 1849, there was a recognition that the roles of the political and non-political government officials needed to be defined and distinguished from one another.
- 1868 - the Canada Civil Service Act was enacted
- The "Civil Service Act" of 1882 created a process for examining candidates for the civil service, with a Board of Civil Service Examiners
- 1908 - the Civil Service Amendment Act created the Civil Service Commission, to oversee appointments to government positions (the "inside service").
- The Civil Service Act 1918Civil Service Act 1918The Civil Service Act 1918 was a piece of legislation passed by Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden following the First World War. The act called for a number of reforms to be made to the Canadian civil service, and had implications on how Canadian public administration unfolded over the...
brought the outside service under the domain of the Commission, along with greater oversight with regards to appointments and promotions for members of the "inside service". - 1920s - the Commission created of a competitive system of examinations for appointment and promotionPromotion (rank)A promotion is the advancement of an employee's rank or position in an organizational hierarchy system. Promotion may be an employee's reward for good performance i.e. positive appraisal...
(a merit system) as a viable alternative to the patronagePatronagePatronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
system. - 1921 - formal restrictions were placed against the employment of married women. Women already holding permanent positions who married had to resign. These restrictions were not removed until 1955.
- 1924 - The Civil Service Superannuation Act was intended to promote and protect a career civil service.
- 1932 - staff control regulations are established and Treasury Board is given authority over the Civil Service Commission's staffing responsibilities.
- 1949 - the number of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veterans assigned to positions in the civil service under the statutory veterans preference rises to 55,000. - 1951 - The Financial Administration Act of 1951 provided final authority to the Treasury Board for management (administration and organization) of the public service.
- 1957 - The CSC establishes the Pay Research Bureau to provide objective information on rates of pay and conditions of employment in government and industry, and to recommend salary rates for civil servants.
- 1961 - The new Civil Service Act of 1961 gave civil servants the right of appeal against not only promotions, but also transfers, demotions, suspensions and dismissals.
- 1962 - The Government adopted recommendations by the Royal Commission on Government Organization (Glassco Commission) on the management of the Public Service, including delegating authority to departments to manage their own personnel and to be held accountable for efficient performance.
- 1966 - BilingualismMultilingualismMultilingualism is the act of using, or promoting the use of, multiple languages, either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers. Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world's population. Multilingualism is becoming a social phenomenon governed by the needs of...
becomes an element of merit in the national capital area. - 1967 - Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) and Public Service Staff Relations Act (PSSRA) come into effect. The PSEA gave the renamed Public Service Commission the responsibility for all the elements of the staffing process. The PSSRA created a collective bargainingCollective bargainingCollective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
regime in the civil service. - early 1970s - rapid expansion of the public service.
- Late 1970s - significant reduction of public service.
- 1979 - The Bilingualism Bonus was introduced for public servants who met the bilingual language requirements of their positions.
- 1984 - the Commission on Equality in Employment issued its report, which recommended that targets and not quotas are the most effective means of achieving equity in the employment of members of under-represented groups.
- 1986 - further employment layoff programs again reduce the public service.
- 1992 - Public Service Reform Act amends both the PSEA and the Public Service Staff Relations Act. This provides more flexibility for managers to respond quickly to changing operational needs or to allow employees to acquire new skills. The Act also enabled the PSC to prescribe standards of competence to measure merit.
- 1995 - a restraint-focused federal budget leads to further reductions (45,000) in the size of the civil service.
- Late 1990s and early 2000s - rapid growth of the public service
- 2004 - Public Service Modernization Act comes into effect. The Canada School of Public ServiceCanada School of Public ServiceThe Canada School of Public Service, formed on April 1, 2004, is the major educational institution for the Government of Canada. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the school was formed by merging three agencies -- the Canadian Centre for Management Development , Training and Development Canada and...
is formed. - 2006 - New Public Service Employment Act is released with significant changes to the staffing and labour relations process - Recruitment is now the responsibility of Deputy Heads. The Financial Authorities Act is also released requiring placing strong accountability on managers of the public service.
See also
- Official Bilingualism in the Public Service of CanadaOfficial bilingualism in the public service of CanadaBecause Canada has, for over two centuries, contained both English- and French-speakers, the question of the language used in the administration of public affairs has always been a sensitive issue....
- Royal Commission on Bilingualism and BiculturalismRoyal Commission on Bilingualism and BiculturalismThe Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism was a Canadian royal commission established on 19 July 1963, by the government of Prime Minister Lester B...