September 28, 2018 – Gatineau, Quebec – Public Service Commission of Canada

A merit-based, representative and non-partisan federal public service that serves all Canadians is a key foundation of the Government of Canada’s bureaucracy.

Today, the Public Service Commission of Canada released government-wide results of its 2018 Staffing and Non-partisanship Survey. The survey solicited feedback from employees, hiring managers and staffing advisors on a wide range of staffing topics in the federal public service, ranging from organizational staffing policies and practices, to political activities and non-partisanship. Statistics Canada administered the survey on behalf of the Public Service Commission, and over 100 000 employees from 74 federal departments and agencies completed it.

The results demonstrate progress in some areas while also highlighting areas that will require focussed attention. Early analysis indicates that the vast majority of employees believe they can carry out their duties in a politically impartial manner, while other results point to more work required to address perceptions of fairness in the hiring process. Additional findings point towards a staffing system that is burdensome and lengthy, a critique the Public Service Commission is aware of, and is addressing through a new, simplified approach to staffing and the modernization of its recruitment system.

The Public Service Commission is currently analyzing the data from the survey, and further reports will be available in coming months, including departmental, demographic and thematic reports.