Dear members,
It’s been over a month since my last message to you. There have been some significant developments on a number of files we are working on. I’ll just jump right in and get you up to date.
Our mandamus order to compel the government to provide adequate health care to employees abroad
Today is the deadline for submitting our sworn affidavit detailing the significant issues experienced by our members following the Public Service Health Care Plan’s transition to Canada Life and MSH International. This is the evidence in support of our arguments which will be relying on at the mandamus hearing. By the time you receive this message, it will have been submitted and affirmed by PAFSO General Manager, Bertrand Myre.
Over the past few weeks, Bert and I have been working closely with our legal team to put this document together. Combined, the experiences contained in our affidavit paint a very accurate picture of the failings of the PSHCP since the 2023 transition and make for a very compelling argument. I wish to thank all those of you who took the time to share your stories with us.
Stay tuned for my 2024 year in review message when I will update you on what to expect, and on the next steps in this very important issue.
My opinion piece in the Ottawa Citizen
I am pleased that the health care situation facing those serving Canada abroad is gaining some attention from the media. Too often these stories are seen as too “inside” and of little interest to the general public. This doesn’t seem to be the case this time. In fact, a few weeks ago I was asked to share my take on the issue in an opinion piece for the Ottawa Citizen.
Our advocacy team is hard at work making sure this story doesn’t fall off the media’s radar. It is in part due to their diligent work that we have had so much interest from the media on this issue. In fact, you can see this for yourself in this short archive of articles on our site.
I’ll let you know when new articles come out on our mandamus order, or the PSHCP in general. It is going to be a big part of our focus for the near future. If you are interested in helping with our advocacy efforts on this file, please think about joining the task force led by Daniel Pollak, one of our Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations Officers. Please contact our office if you’re interested.
PAFSO’s Strategic Plan
As I mentioned in my previous message, PAFSO’s strategic plan for 2025–28 was approved at our October 21 AGM. Our team has now made it available on our website. We felt it was important to make sure our members had the chance to consult this document and understand the priorities and objectives of their association for the next three years.
I invite you to click the link above and read the plan for yourselves. In short, it states that meeting the challenges and opportunities of the coming years requires a flexible and committed approach that is suited to both new and longstanding issues. And that consolidating the integration of our professional association and representation responsibilities by shifting our organizational culture from a rights-based service model to one focused on shared interests and advocacy will help support our renewed strategic priorities and directions. These are as follows:
- Protect and represent
Collective bargaining, labour relations, FSDs, health and safety, etc. - Advocate and engage
Ensure PAFSO is visible to the public, the media and decision-makers. - Govern and operate
Maintain our commitment to best practices in financial, operational and governance matters.
Federal pension plan surplus
Last week we learned of the Government’s plan to transfer $1.9 billion of non-permitted surplus from the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) to its general revenue bank accounts and to suspend their contributions to the plan. The contributions that flow into the PSPP come from both the employer and from you. Shouldn’t this surplus benefit everyone? The employer doesn’t seem to think so.
Once again, this is a case of the Employer making unilateral decisions – without input from the unions – in matters that directly affect our members.
Just this Tuesday, the heads of the bargaining agents got together to discuss this issue at the NJC meeting. Basically, our position is that since employees make half the contributions to the plan, it is only fair that at least half the surplus be used to improve the benefit rather than ending up in general revenue for nothing more than short-term political gain. There are a number of things that could be done with the money, such as eliminating the two-tier system or giving employees a contribution holiday. However, there are several factors at play, and we will be working in solidarity with our colleagues to determine the best course of action.
The PSPP is predicted to be in surplus for the next three years, and that should not mean three years of windfalls for the Employer at your expense. There is definitely more to follow on this, and I’ll be sure to keep you up to date as the situation warrants.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) training for PAFSO ExCom
I am pleased to announce that as part of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism, PAFSO’s Executive Committee has engaged Canadian Equality Consulting to lead them through training sessions on the subject. The first session took place a few weeks ago, and the next will be held in January.
The goal of this training is to build practical DEI knowledge at the governance level within PAFSO, helping the board address members’ needs effectively within PAFSO’s mandate. The training has a particular focus on understanding and applying the principles of DEI to enhance member support and increase PAFSO’s institutional sensitivity to trauma and diverse experiences.
PAFSO Breakfast December 17 at 0900, Ottawa time
The final installment of our PAFSO Breakfast series for 2024 will take place on Tuesday, December 17 at 0900 Ottawa time. It will be an informal session with me and General Manager Bertrand Myre where we will give you an update on everything we’ve been doing in 2024 and talk about our plans for next year’s important #PAFSO60 celebrations. We’d also be happy to respond to your questions, so please ask us anything via info@pafso.com. Please click here to register.
PAFSO/CIC mentorship initiative: We need more mentors!
A few weeks ago, we announced our new partnership with the Canadian International Council (CIC) on a mentorship program for students and early-career professionals interested in international careers. The program is open to both PAFSO and CIC members (in the National Capital and Waterloo regions for now). The response has been amazing, and we now have more than 100 people signed up for our pilot. While this is great news, it means that we need more mentors and have extended our deadline for applications until December 10.
Please consider applying as a mentor even if you don’t think you are extremely far along in your career. While mentees will always benefit by learning from very senior colleagues, hearing about your experience as an officer even only a few years in can still be very valuable to someone just starting to think about a Foreign Service career. The time commitment is flexible and PAFSO and CIC are committed to making the experience an enriching one for those on both sides of the equation. You can sign up here.
King’s Coronation Medal
On Monday, December 2, I was honoured to accept the invitation of Senator Peter Boehm, long-time PAFSO member and advocate for Canada’s Foreign Service, to receive the King Charles Coronation Medal for my work as your President and for my diplomatic career. The ceremony took place in the Senate Chambers in the presence of the Right Honourable Joe Clark. The 20 recipients included two other members of our Foreign Service community, retired FS Ray Boomgardt and Foreign Service spouse Elizabeth Heatherington. It was a privilege to be included as part of such a distinguished group and I thank Senator Boehm for his nomination.
The Coronation Medal commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of Canada. It is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
The death of Jean-François Hubert-Rouleau
I was saddened this weekend to learn of the passing of former PAFSO member, Jean-François Hubert-Rouleau. Jean-François’s career in the Foreign Service was an exemplary one, to say the least. He served at several posts around the world, including Manila, Islamabad, and Port-au-Prince. His work at this latter posting is what earned Jean-François a 2011 PAFSO Award. You can read more about Jean-François outstanding work in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake and its aftermath here on our site. We understand that, in accordance with his wishes, there will not be a funeral. Our thoughts go to his family and loved ones.
Thank you for your generous donations
And, finally, just a quick thank you to everyone who took advantage of Giving Tuesday and contributed to the PAFSO/AmbCanada Deborah Chatsis Indigenous Scholarship in International Affairs. Since its inception in 2021, the fund has kept growing at an incredible pace. Now, it’s too soon to have all the numbers from this week’s contributions, but once those come in, I will be sure to let you know how the scholarship is doing, and what this will mean going forward for 2025.
I know I say this a lot, but it has been a busy time here at PAFSO. In fact, 2024 has been a very full year. In my next message to you on December 20 – the last one for 2024 – I will try my best to give you a comprehensive recap of everything that we worked on for the past 12 months. But, for now, you’re up to date.
As always, if anything you have concerns at work, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Are you having issues with your pay? Do you feel harassed or discriminated against? Do you have a grievance or a staffing complaint? Or do you just want some clarifications on our collective agreement or the FSDs? Whatever the case, PAFSO is here for you. Just send us an email with your name, department and a detailed description of your concerns. For anything and everything else, please send us an email at info@pafso.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other.
All the best,
Pam Isfeld
President
@PafsoPresApase