Victoria Building reno to be moved up into Block 2 overhaul
There’s been an official change in plans for renovations on Parliament Hill, with the Senate Internal Economy Committee recently giving a green light to a rejigging that will see the Victoria Building emptied and renovated sooner, and incorporated into the overall redevelopment of Block 2 between Wellington and Sparks streets. “Instead of having an occupied […]
Back-to-workplace plans still in flux say public service union leaders, as PSAC files mandatory vaccination policy grievances
With yet another wave of COVID-19 coming down on Canadians, return-to-workplace plans for thousands of federal public service workers continue to stall, as the Treasury Board reviews policies around telework, as well as the government’s mandatory vaccination order for federal employees. Union leaders say the majority of employees are continuing to work from home. And […]
Procurement revamp can create greater access for historically marginalized communities
Procurement practices and policies rarely dominate news headlines or dinner table conversations in Canada. At least, that was the case before two long pandemic years during which federal procurement was at the forefront of Canada’s response to COVID-19. From the great rush to secure personal protective equipment (PPE) to the international vaccine acquisition tussle that […]
‘Freedom Convoy’-prompted pause to Centre Block work cost estimated $3-million: PSPC
Work to renovate Centre Block and build a new underground visitor’s welcome centre is running apace to where where it was before a 16-day suspension caused by the “Freedom Convoy” that occupied downtown Ottawa last month, an interruption that Public Services and Procurement Canada estimates cost roughly $3-million. “PSPC is currently assessing the cost and […]
With no end in sight, it’s time for a national inquiry into the Phoenix pay fiasco
The average Canadian could be forgiven if Feb. 28 doesn’t hold any special meaning. But for hundreds of thousands of federal public service workers and retirees, the date marks the sixth anniversary of the Phoenix pay system disaster. More than 300,000 workers—Canada’s largest workforce by far—haven’t forgotten, and they certainly haven’t forgiven. Every paycheque is […]
Public service union helped residents take back their streets as citizens grew weary of law enforcement lag
As the “Freedom Convoy” that descended on downtown Ottawa and surrounding residential streets moved into its third week, thousands of counterprotesters in the nation’s capital began pushing back, many of whom were upset with the ongoing occupation and the lack of action by police services prior to the invocation of the Emergencies Act. Alex Silas, […]
Feds cited caretaker convention to justify delays even after it wasn’t in ‘strict application’
In the weeks following the Sept. 20 election, the Liberal government cited the caretaker convention as a reason to delay releasing new policies or information, but, as the prime minister confirmed in information tabled in the House, the convention was not in “strict application” after election night due to results showing a Liberal re-election and […]
Centre Block project demolition and excavation work nearly two-thirds complete, MPs hear
While Centre Block may have looked beautiful from the outside, “its facilities were critically outdated and systems were failing,” a senior Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) official told MPs recently, offering up new words to describe the deteriorated and outdated state of the 100-year-old Centre Block building to remind MPs “why we are doing […]
New chair of House LTVP working group aims to boost project awareness
The new chair at the helm of the MP working group overseeing plans to renovate the Parliamentary Precinct says he’s looking to do more to ensure people across Canada are aware of the massive and “complicated” project being undertaken. “I’m still being informed of the whole process but I think this is a Canadian project […]
Liberals’ Defence Procurement Canada is still worth a look
Days before Christmas, the Trudeau government released its ministerial mandate letters. An early holiday present for the country’s pundits and policy wonks, the letters highlight government priorities and marching orders for cabinet ministers. For Canadian defence policy observers, the 2021 mandate letters for the ministers of National Defence and Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC) […]
