PIPSC President Celebrates Change in Government, Calls for Respect and Restoration of Federal Public Service

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 20, 2015) - In a letter sent to Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau today congratulating him on his majority win yesterday, Debi Daviau, President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), which represents federal scientists, auditors, IT experts and other public service professionals, underlined her union's commitment to work with Canada's new government to deliver on its promise of "real change" - in particular, by restoring the federal public service and reversing a decade of disrespect, muzzling, and cuts to the public service.

"Yesterday Canadians rejected the destructive policies and governance of the Harper government and voted for "real change," including a positive approach to inclusive governance and progressive policies. Today, we stand ready to refocus our efforts on supporting the start of a new, positive and progressive era and, not least, the restoration of a strong, independent, professional federal public service that is relied on to provide evidence-based expertise in support of the development and delivery of programs and services to Canadians," wrote Daviau.

"Our members have persevered through very tough times under a hyper-partisan government whose lack of respect for the public service was evident in both its approach and its policies," she added. "After a long decade in which vital federal leadership has been in decline, our members and all Canadians look forward to quick action on key commitments made during this campaign."

These include:

• An end to the muzzling of scientists;
• Restoring evidence-based policy-making;
• Stopping the excessive outsourcing of critical information services;
• Returning integrity to the tax system;
• Reinvesting in critical public services;
• Respecting the right to free collective bargaining; and
• Repealing recent anti-union legislation.

"Our members told us to do everything in our power to help ensure that we turn the page on the Harper government's assaults on the public service," added Daviau in a separate comment. "We owe it to both our members and to all Canadians to make sure that real change is delivered."

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents some 55,000 professionals across Canada's public sector.