Thank you for listening to Depiction's Media Radio. Welcome to Policy Rights to show
about government policy and human rights. Welcome back to policy and right here in
Depictions Media Radio, I'm your host, Michael Clouds. As we know that
Canada Public Services workers have gone on strike. The union voted to go on
strike at the end of last week and coming coming into the into their sixth
day of striking, there there um going after the highest targets that can impact
the economy, and Canadian ports and border crossings are tops on that list of
targets. So there will be will probably be increased picketing and protest to make
the highest impact on those particular areas. After all, the um if Canada
can't move goods in and out of those borders, that that does eventually affect
the economy. And of course um inflation, which we all know the effects
of inflation are at some of their highest that I may have ever seen in
my own lifetime. So what is it that that what is being negotiated?
Where how is the government sitting, especially the liberals, how are they sitting
at the bargaining table in order to bring this strike to a quick end.
They they said they were doing everything they could to avoid the strike, when
when we last heard in some of the question and answer periods on the Parliament
floor, and then days later we out we're in a strike, So what
are they doing? What are the steps that they're taking? Just when Trudeau
in one statement he's going to say that he won't discuss publicly what it is
that they are negotiating over and how they're going to bring this strike to an
end. Is it that maybe we'll stretch it out long enough that they that
we start to see um imposed court orders to put people back to work and
to end slowdowns. We don't know what are the what is the government's strategy
in this and how are they going to meet the demands of the union.
So that's today's episode is actually going to be focused on how the government is
actually handling and what Trudeau and MPs are actually saying about this strike in general,
and how the ministers are going to focus efforts to bring the strike to
an in so that services to us as the public aren't grinding to a complete
halt and that we can still live our lives. Government the final strike.
Obviously, Canadians have a right and deserve to get the services that they need
from the federal government. That's why we need both management and labor to get
back to the bargaining tables as soon as possible and continue to make problems.
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public servants to go back into the office to work. To you, what
we are saying, what I'm saying right now is public servant unions need to
get back to the negotiating tables right now. Ament to public service to go
into the office to do the remote work they've been doing for three years.
So we are not we are not negotiating in public right now. The negotiations
happen at the negotiating table but the reality is Canadians have every right and expectation
to see the services that they expect delivered. We understand it's really important to
respect labor rights, and there's a labor distruction right now. It's the first
day. Let's make sure that while this is going on, we are at
the negotiating table. That's where we expect both managers and unions to sit down
and keep the hard work for condation to work, legislation even potentially plan.
We'll see what happens. I have no comment on that. My colleagues are
on the lead on that, or we're for obviously following the situation close um,
make a leg la minister protist or two. All the lovelski keep any
thoughts on true to any dedication. You're concerned about your immigration files slowing down
work, well, look, if there's still a chance for conversations to continue,
I hope parties remain at the table. Of course, if there is
a public service strike, there would be a serious impact on any departments that
have staff have been impacted. We know that processing delays are the kind of
thing that could take place, But I remain hopeful that parties will remain engaged
and we work towards a solution that keeps people working, but we'll see what
the next couple of days has in store. There are there any contingencies the
department has put in place bracing for the fact that there could be process and
delays on immigration applications. Uh yeah. One of the things that we look
at carefully as the potential for an impact on our operations and how we can
pivot as necessary to maintain essential functions of the department. Our international network has
the opportunity to continue working being separated from the bargaining unit, but there will
be an impact if thousands of staff are not performing their day to day work.
And it's the kind of thing that we are planning on adjusting our resources
internally to pivot to the most essential functions of the department. But Canadians who
are using the immigration system, should there be a public service strike, would
expect to see an impact on service timeline. Certainly, what kind of timelines
could things be extended to. I want to be careful not to project what
may happen because it depends on facts that we don't yet have access to.
Of course, I remain hopeful that the parties will continue to work together in
order to find a solution. That's what I think everybody wants out of this
important negotiations that are going on. But the impact on our operations would depend
upon the nature of any kind of strike action that may take place, whether
it's a full action or partial or rotating, could certainly impact timelines. The
length of any work stoppage obviously would be a major factor as well that could
potentially impact it. So I don't mean to dodge your question, only to
explain that the impact can't be fully discerned until we understand the nature of any
work stoppage, should there be one. But I remain hopeful as always the
parties will continue to work towards a solution so we can avoid those kinds of
consequences. Just sorry, I was just thinking of the backlock. If there
is a backlog for WE, if they go out for WE, where did
that take a profit to clears or any sort of formula sort of knowing how
many applications are a processing only not necessarily it's not a clear formula where we
know X number of days missed will add that many days. Of course,
there's different things that we're constantly trying to do whether it's adopting new digital solutions,
some of which happen to be coming on board around now, whether it's
relaxing certain administrative requirements. So the folks who continue to work through any kind
of stoppage are able to produce more with existing resources. So we do whatever
we can, and frankly we do that on an ongoing basis in ordinary circumstances
to try to improve processing timelines anyway. So it's hard to say with certainty,
but we can certainly expect when um the public Service UH stops performing certain
functions, that those functions will will reveal themselves through service levels that the people
who use the system enjoy, really appreciate. Very It's not fine equity,
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are apt polan focus, yes, question, I think you know Canadians are.
Our job is to deal with Canadians concern. That's and we're doing.
And I think there's very few Canadians who look back at vocations of colleagues around
the house or wherever. I think what they want is for us to focus
on what matters to them, which is affordability. It's about healthcare, it's
about making sure we create the economy of the future, of the job.
That's what we did yesterday with Eric said to invest a close half a billion
in Canada. That's my focus. How do you know, don't care because
I talked to Canadians every single day, and hundreds of them. So it's
okay that the Prime Minister went on. I would say, you say,
I have not met one Canadian talking to me about that. What they talk
to me about is Ericsson, is about the job, is about making sure
we have more battery plants, that we lead in the economy of the future.
And that's what Canadians talk to me about. That was the one that
come to me and say, Minister, keep on going, good jobs.
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not you and part Yeah. Well, I hope that it comes back,
um quickly. I want to thank the senators for all the work, um,
the past work, what they're doing now. It's a very important build.
People are expecting them, the culture, we're expecting them. It's the
builder. Was the longest in the history of Canada in the Senate. It
was well studied in the House. In the Senate. Uh, it's an
important bill. It's time to move in security or something. Buttives it's tw
of well and lamotis that Simms is the line all of you a Washington,
a Diana on a What do you make of the conservative positions? Sir?
What do you make of the conservative position that they don't want to touch the
CDC or they want to defund the CDC rather, but they want to maintain
and keep funding to Radio Canada. What do the same institution? How can
they do that? But it makes you know what the thing is. I'm
extremely worried today they are attacking the CDC educated journalists. To tomorrow, who
is it going to be one of you? One of your media attacking journalism
is attacking our democracy And I am extremely worried. So she explain, see
the massic key knut media. I keep be called but I can keep us
attack decracy. Are you looking at earlier US over years past? No jailed
web is a government of Canada looking at its use of Twitter, and given
Twitter's activities the changing a percentage CBC funding, some are pointing out, what
the heck is going on? Here? Is the government Canada reviewing its policy
using Twitter. Honestly, I don't know. I didn't have any discussion on
that. But what what I'm concerned about is once again the Conservatives are signing
with the tech giant. Now this time they're asking a tech giant to come
and helping combat the Kenian institutions. You guys, I mean we should all
be worried. Seriously, do you think it's time to review CBC's man Will
it will what is it? As you may know, the the Alberta Nity
Regulator has reported that six million leader of tailing ponds has We don't have the
details yet, but it has leaked into the Athabasca River. So I have
asked urgently Environment Canada officials to look into it. We will have more to
say a little bit later, but as of now, these are the only
information that I have. If if if BA Canada though goes well, if
Pisa goes on the straight, are some of those Environment Canada people are going
to be walking back at lands or I don't have the information. I don't
have the answer to that question. I mean, obviously some of those are
essential services workers, especially in the enforcement branch, inspection verification. But I
don't have the specific answer to the question. A lemon because oh yeah,
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good afternoon, thank you for being here today. Last night, the
public Service Alliance of Canada followed through with its strike deadline and as a result
of as of this morning, over one hundred thousand members and five bargaining units
are now in a legal strike position and can withdraw their services. Now.
I can't stress enough how disappointing this is based on the progress we've made at
the negotiating table. This is not where we should be. Over the past
two weeks, We've been able to resolve a number of issues through mediation,
and most importantly, we have put a fair, competitive wage offer on the
table. We recognize and respect employee's rights to strike, but when a good
offer is on the table and there is a genuine commitment to compromise, the
focus should be on negotiation. The government has been waiting for almost a year
for PSAC to come back to the table since our first offer, so we
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offered PSAC employees a wage increase of nine percent over three years. This fully
matches the increase recommended by the Public Interest Commission, and all members of the
Commission endorsed that increase, including the p s AC's nominee. We have also
put forward proposals on a number of other priorities for the p SAC, including
remote work, increase, shift and weekend premiums, and improved leave with pay
for family related responsibilities. We have no doubt that there is enough common ground
to compromise and reach an agreement with the PSAC, and I'm convinced by working
together we can do so. To all federal public servants across the country who
work hard every day, your work is valued by Canadians and by us.
We will continue to work with the PSAC to reach agreements that are fair and
competitive, but we cannot do that unless the union is prepared to compromise.
We cannot write a blank check to Canadians. We know that our strike poses
unneeded challenges. We are committed to ensuring that essential services continue to be delivered.
That said, after the union's announcements. Many of the p s a
c's members are away from their job on strike. It is not business as
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Labor Disruptions to find out more about potential impacts on their services. And I
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Good afternoon everyone. I'd like to take some time to give an update on
how the ongoing public service labor disruption will affect services delivered by E SDC and
Service Canada. When a labor disruption takes place, it is incumbent upon the
government to take the steps necessary to ensure Canadians can still access essential services.
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the Guaranteed Income Supplement, Employment insurance and Social insurance numbers are considered essential services
as these programs will be focused on maintaining client access to payments. Canadians should
register for direct deposit to help get the payments they are entitled to quickly and
easily. In person and virtual services will be limited to clients requiring assistance with
cpp os and EI, as well as the GIS and the issuance of SIN.
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de paspalt consolide. This means that the majority of Canadians will not be able
to apply for or renew a passport by law passport services are essential and a
priority only in emergency or humanitarian situations. These very limited services will only be
available at passport offices or at Service Canada centers that are consolidated passport offices.
Humanitarian and or emergency situations are defined as follows. Passport clients at risk of
financial hardship, passport clients who rely on travel as a source of employment and
whose income security will be jeopardized without access, passport clients who must travel for
medical reasons or who have had a death or illness in the family, and
whose situation is deemed urgent, And passport clients deemed urgent on compassionate grounds.
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trette. Passport Applications that do not meet these criterias will not be considered essential
and will not be processed. We do expect that a prolonged labor disruction would
create a backlog of passport applications that we need to be processed once the disruption
is over. Thanks to the capacity that we've built over the past year,
we're in a much stronger position to address any new backlogs. But it wouldn't
go away overnight. To paint a quick picture, we currently have a sustainable
file inventory of about one hundred and sixty thousand ten or twenty day passport applications.
We receive a total about eighty five thousand a week and process a little
more than that. The incoming and the outgoing are balanced. If we lose
a week of processing time, tens of thousands of files in that inventory move
out of service standard and become a backlog, and then we have to consider
the number of applications we may receive but can't process during labor disruption. The
longer we are in this position, the worse that problem becomes. It would
take some time to resolve, but we are going into it in a stronger
position than where we were last year. For example, new continnurand de value
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de courte d re acnupur rider rapidement tu tretaire accumulate. Our government is taking
every step we can to minimize impacts on Canadians and we will continue to monitor
the situation closely and ensure that we provide the services and benefits as quickly and
efficiently as possible. And with that, I'd like to turn it over to
my colleague, Minister Fraser to talk about his department RCA PREDI. I'm going
to be providing some information on the anticipated impact of a labor disruption on these
services offered by IRCC to clients, both in Canada and overseas. I'll start
with the services that will remain available for clients at this time. Those using
RCC services will continue to be able to make applications online or by mail.
They'll be able to continue to access an online account, and there will be
some access to emergency services. Services delivered by our partners as well will also
continue. These include things such as these application centers across the world and panel
physician services and healthcare related services that are delivered here in Canada. Services delivered
by settlement and resettlement organizations in Canada, including for government assisted refugees, will
still be offered. Settlement services across the country will continue to make sure people
have the support they need before, during, and after their arrival in Canada.
Government assisted refugees will continue to receive income support payments and We're going to
continue to provide temporary accommodations for vulnerable groups, including those, for example,
people who have recently fled the war in Ukraine. Cleon put onto depose on
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Now I want to focus on the services offered by our i RCC that
that we do expect to see an impact on. As a result of the
labor disruption, we would be at a significantly reduced capacity. Clients should expect
to experience serious delays with processing applications across all of our immigration streams. At
any given point in time. It's common for us to be managing more than
a million applications. This is a large number, and we have been working
night and day over the past year and a half as we came into the
post pandemic phase to reduce these backlogs, and we were getting very close to
restoring service standards across all of our lines of business, and in fact have
hit those service standards we enjoyed pre pandemic for many of them. Unfortunately,
the labor disruption will have an impact on the gains that we have made and
the work that we've been doing to address some of these backlogs and our inventories
since the pandemic. Further delays could be experienced with citizenship services delivered admissions abroad.
Clients with immigration related appointments will be contacted to reschedule or cancel appointments,
and we will also be forced to reschedule all citizenship events. Finally, our
response times for those writing to us or contacting us by phone will be significantly
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take every step we can to minimize the impact on real people with very real
concerns that could be seriously impacted as a result of any labor disruption. We're
going to continue to monitor the situation very closely and ensure we provide whatever services
are possible to our clients that they can rely on as quickly and as efficiently
as possible, and to continue to keep the public informed on further impacts that
may be observed depending on how the next number of days or weeks play out.
I'll be happy to join my colleagues and taking what questions you may have
and would reflect the comments made by those who spoke before me that we remain
at the table and want to work with the Union to find a solution that
is fair and mises the impact on our productivity. Thank you so much,
looking forward to what questions you may have right, Thank you very much.
I just want to reassure the colleagues the ministers will not be leaving at one.
We have more time for questions, but we do have a full house.
So just as a reminder, I will be alternating between French and English.
UM, one question, one follow up, and we will be starting
with questions in the room. For people on zoom, please use the raised
hand function if to indicate that you have a question at any So we're going
to start with me or Rapson from the Canadian Press. Hi, I'm can
can choose a little bit about your comment this morning that you were still at
the table negotiating. The Prime Minister seemed to suggest you weren't at the table
negotiating. The Union is saying that they will come back to the table when
you put a new offer on the table. So I'm just wondering if you
can clarify what's going on with the actual negotiations and if a new offer is
coming from the government. Well, thank you for the question. They are
presently negotiating at the table. Everybody, all the parties are at the table.
So are you planning to come back with a new offer? And as
my follow up, I'm just curious when if you would consider back to work
legislation and if if not immediately, when that would come into play. Um
I will say that, of course we call upon the PSAC to work with
us to reach a deal, an agreement as quickly as possible, and it's
in the interest of the public service and of Canadians, and the bargaining table
is the best place where we can reach for a deal. And currently negotiations
are happening and exchanges are happening between both parties, and we will continue to
put all efforts in to have those negotiations and to reach a deal. Madame
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News. Hi, there, Um, we've heard a lot about telework and
these negotiations. Um, it's the government prepared to let some workers work entirely
remotely as the union is hoping for. Thank you for the question. And
what I'm going to say at this time is that as we are implementing a
modern workplace where employees have the flexibility to work from home to three days a
week, and we have made proposals on telework and other PSAC priorities at the
time and at the same time, we need to ensure that government can deliver
a service and make sure that our core purpose is to deliver services. Therefore,
we will see what continues at the table. During the pandemic, some
workers did work remotely. Did you see a decline in productivity during that time?
Is that part of the hesitancy around doing remote work more permanently. I
think that we have been from a by necessity to work from home to now
a delivering services with a hybrid model that isn't transformation. Therefore, we're evaluating
how to best deliver those services and by bringing forward letting some of the public
service public servants working from home to three days a week is what we are
presenting at this time and we will continue to look at how we can transform
how we best deliver the services to Canadians, which is our core purpose.
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I'm um, without getting into numbers, I'm wondering if you can talk about
how far apart the two sides are from from reaching an agreement, and also
if you can talk about the tone of negotiations right now. Well, I
will say I'm of course convinced that we are putting all the efforts together to
reach a deal. That's where best deals are made is at the table.
And we've been working very hard for the last two weeks in mediation and have
the effort to continue that effort to reach a deal. And i will say
that as we are negotiating, I'm not privy to share where we are in
gaps or whatnot. I think right now the focus is to find compromise and
work together. And the Prime Minister said today that you put forward an offer
on Monday and the Union never got back to you, and the Union says
it did get back to you made a counter offer. Can you clear that
up? What's going on with them? Well, again, as you know,
in the negotiations, there's an offer and then there's a counteroffer, and
that's what we're working on right now, and that the table, there will
be many exchanges. Therefore, we focus right now on making sure the parties
are looking at how the offers will get to one deal. There have been
exchanges for the past two weeks and we will continue to do that. God
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Gregor CTVR is resistant to enshrining the right to work from home or to telework.
Given your previous comments and how well it working in the pandemic, why
don't you allow those things to be enshrined in a collective agreement? Currently?
As I said earlier with another question, we are implementing a hybrid work model
to best deliver services, having a modern workplace that gives the flexibility to public
servants to work from home two to three days a week, and we have
made those proposals on telework and other PSAC priorities during this current negotiation, and
at the same time, we want to make sure that we continue to offer
services to Canadians. That's our core priority. Follow up for Minister Google that
your criteria for what is an essential passport application? Right now? There are
going to be lots of people out there who have holidays planned, travel planned
that don't meet those criteria. You've said, what do you say to a
family that's going to Disney World next week for their passports? Yeah, Glenn,
it's it's a really good question, and unfortunately it's not something that I
have set. It's legislated in law as what an urgent or humanitarian passport is
considered to be UM and uh, you know, I feel I feel very
terrible for them. UM. You know, I think, like all of
my colleagues here, we're very hopeful that we're going to come to a negotiated
agreement with the Public Service Alliance of Canada expeditiously so that the impact on Canadians
is minimal. So I'm I'm very hopeful that that bargaining will continue because you
know, unfortunately, as legislated UM and as outlined with the Union, if
someone has a family vacation plan, it's not considered to be an essential service.
And so you know, I really you know, continue to urge both
parties. I mean, the government is there, We've been there since last
June, and I hope that the Union will continue to be there as well
to reach this agreement because ultimately has an impact on Canadians. Ranc Chris Clip
Your Preserves, Organisms, Cali Come Service Livy and Alma Liervicen Alma lip Program
Nouvelaan Continent sc Seat Lisa. I think a pursui nos activities or PRIs of
service phraser um. The most unique la M the contact bump um um.
So the the it's not one million per year, it's it's common for us
to have more than a million applications in the inventory at any given moment um.
Far more than that come in over the course of a year, and
we process them as they come in, so that the number annually would be
would be much higher. The precise nature of the delays for people who are
awaiting visa processing, for example, will depend on the nature of the labor
disruption. Um. We do have access to the international network of workers at
IRCC who will continue to process what they can with a prioritization, of course,
on emergency situations where a person's life may may be threatened. I do
expect that the impact will be severe, depending on the length of any work
stoppage. However, the full scale of the disruption has certain unknown facts that
make it difficult to assess with certainty the precise timelines or delays an applicant may
face. Ryan Tumulty, National Past Yeah, Minister Fortune, I'm wondering there's
some lack of clarity. PEACEACK is basically telling its members that it's unlikely they
will see wage cutbacks during the strike, that there will be clawbacks after the
strike, but that during the strike they shouldn't expect to see a reduction in
their wages. Is that accurate or should people striking expect that their next paycheck
will be less well, the ones that will be continue to work in their
positions will continue to be paid. The ones that will be going on that
picket line will be given a pay from their union, so they will continue
to be paid by their union and them out per day. Yeah. Sorry,
PSACHI standing its members though, that it will they're unlikely to see a
pay stoppage even while they're on strike and off the job, and that that
won't a clawback won't happen until after the fact. Can you clarify that I
will. I will just make sure that I have the right to technical information
from my colleagues, and I will come back to you if you give me
to make sure that I give you the right information. Thank you, David.
Briefly the logic, thank you. I'm feltier. Could you talk a
little bit about some of the impacts on trade and goods movement from this.
I know frontline CBSA agents are not on strike, but some parts of CBSA
R and they must interact. The Canadian Grain Commission is apparently not doing export
certifications according to your information page. What are the consequences of this strike on
those hearts of activities? Well, as we said earlier, there has been,
of course an understanding with prior to the striking activity with the PSCC to
identify which would be essential services and which will not be. Therefore, there
will be an impact in those services that are not essential, and that is
what is happening. So therefore there will be some impact on this. I'm
after something more specific than that. I'm clearly there's some impact, but where
what sorts of particular goods will be affected by this? Where will imports or
exports be slowed down? I don't have the current specific information, but I
think that is a good question that we can come back to you through a
technical brief. Thank you, Stephanie Lovitts, Toronto Star. Hi. I
guess my questions from natro Fort as well. I'm wondering if you can respond
to the official opposition that says that the fact that we've gotten to a strike
is a measure of incompetence on the part of the federal government. Not being
able to avert something it's not coming for months. Well, again, it's
important to say that we need to make sure that public servants are paid fairly
and that it's a competitive also pay and that's what we've been concentrating on.
A year ago we tabled our first offer, and since then we've been trying
to make sure that public servants have a wage deal that will be fair and
also at the same time reasonable for Canadians. And that's what we're focusing on
at this time. And then, just as my follow up, if we
understand sort of the public service to be the barometer for the private labor market,
what's your message to work is more broadly then that at this time of
inflation, they too ought not expect wage hikes that match inflationary pressures as they
see their own grocery bills and other expenses go up. Well, the thing
is we have put forward a deal, an offer I would say that is
good for public servants and also fair and also that will make sure that it's
reasonable for Canadians. We have a current economy that we see is changing and
we want to make sure, of course that we follow that economy. And
I, as I said, earlier in my remarks, I think it's important
that we get to this wage offer that will not compromise what other jurisdictions are
also working on and putting pressure on those jurisastans and the private sector. So
I think that we have the right path forward and we will of course work
very hard to get to a deal. Thank you very much. We'll now
go to questions on zoom. A reminder to use the race hand function to
indicate if you do have a question, and I will amute you an immediate
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last question Meli's Canadian press him. This question is from Minister of forty um.
The Prime Minister earlier this morning had called on Labor to come back to
the table. It seems like at some point they left the table and Labor
had said that they would come back if the government came back an offer.
So I just liked some clarity as to what had happened and whether uh negotiations
resumed because the government came back with the new offer, or that labor just
chose to come back. So I have to say the last two weeks there
has been many conversations going from one room to another with mediation, and that
is what negotiations are, and that this morning, my understanding is that the
union and the government we're at the table working together and that is the same
case as we speak. Okay, wage increases, remote work, seniority rights
on layoffs are three of the biggest things that are that are on the negotiating
table when we're talking about what the union demands are during this particular federal public
service strikes. Here's the thing is this strike is being watched very closely because
it could have ripple effects in other areas depending on what it is that is
negotiated and what demands are met and how they are are actually met. So
the government isn't in a sticky position. And we're talking about one hundred and
fifty five thousand federal public servants that are on strike or at least on some
sort of a slowdown. So what could the ripple effects be and what is
the government really going to do. We're gonna have to keep up with this
and see how things play out with the government. And again they're saying that
they're going to do this behind closed doors. And one of the things that
we know that this government is good at is keeping things behind closed doors until
they explode and then there's public inquiry, which they fight against it. That
also so thank you for listening to us today here on Depictions Media Radio.
You've been listening to Policy and Rights. I'm your host, Michael Clogs and
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