Dear Members,
For the past couple of weeks, our attention has been focussed on Budget 2025, which was adopted in Parliament earlier this week. Although we’re still waiting to learn how many of the provisions will affect you, I wanted to focus this week’s message on what we know so far.
Budget 2025: what’s next
The adoption of Budget 2025 clears the way for Bill C-15, the Budget 2-25 Implementation Act, which must also be adopted by Parliament. Although the document is focused largely on technical issues and tax amendments, there is one element that could directly affect PAFSO members.
C-15 includes some specifications on the Early Retirement Initiative (ERI), which will be offered to eligible federal public servants (starting on page 309 of the linked PDF). Eligible participants in the ERI will need to have reached age 50 (for Group 1) or 55 (Group 2) “at the time they cease to be employed.” Entitlement to the ERI must be approved by Treasury Board under “criteria that it establishes,” which were still not known when Bargaining Agents met with them a couple of days ago.
PAFSO and the other bargaining agents of the National Joint Council have also written to Ministers Ali and Champagne to express concern about changes to pension contribution rates included in the budget PAFSO joins other federal bargaining agents in sharing concerns on proposed pension changes – PAFSO and to ask for clarification on how these changes shall be implemented. It appears that the government is planning to reduce contribution rates for both the employee and the employer, which seems, on the surface, to save both sides money up front. However, this could effectively nullify the recent expansions of CPP/QPP, meaning lower pension rates down the line.
We had hoped to have more detail about exactly how the measures in Budget 2025 would affect GAC and IRCC by now, but specifics are still under discussion. Joint work force adjustment committees have been formed at both departments, as well as at the national level, and we are also engaging with senior management as they work through their plans.
One thing is clear: a healthy and effective foreign service is crucial to Canada’s national interest, especially at this time in history. We play a critical role in Prime Minister Carney’s stated objective of reducing our dependence on any single partner by building ties and strengthening our connections abroad. It would be a serious mistake to further erode our capacity to engage internationally, and PAFSO is committed to advocating for the resources and support that Canada’s professional diplomats need to continue serving Canadians at home and around the world, and to keeping you informed as this unfolds. Please keep an eye on our website, including our FAQ page for the latest updates.
Webinar on ERI and WFA considerations with Tradex December 10 at 0900
In order to help members assess the implications of the Early Retirement Initiative and possible Work Force Adjustment provisions for their individual situations, I will be hosting a webinar with Blair Cooper and his team from Tradex on Wednesday December 10 at 0900 Ottawa time. They will walk us through some of the questions we should ask as we consider whether or not the ERI is a good option for our individual situations. Please register for the session here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TwOPsxV7RjmPVZtLRlM1wQ
Remembering CJ Scott: launch of fundraising for Carleton scholarship
This past Wednesday, I had the honour of attending the event organized by the Black Employees Network and PAFSO’s DEI committee to launch fundraising for Carleton University’s CJ Scott Memorial Award in International Relations and Diplomacy.
Nearly 100 people gathered to remember our former Executive Committee colleague and friend, and to support the scholarship for Black undergraduate students pursuing studies in diplomacy and international relations. If you would like to help this cause, and honour CJ and her legacy, please consider making a donation at the above link.
Deborah Chatsis Indigenous Scholarship in International Affairs
In 2022, PAFSO joined with AMBCANADA to support the Deborah Chatsis Indigenous Scholarship in International Affairs, which honours the first Indigenous woman from Canada’s career foreign service to be appointed Ambassador. Thanks in large part to the support of PAFSO members, this scholarship is now “endowed,” which means that it will continue in perpetuity to offer assistance to an Indigenous student. Our goal now is to expand the number of Indigenous students we can support in their studies, and we ask you to consider a donation to help ensure that Indigenous people are properly represented in Canada’s foreign service.
As always, should you have any concerns at work, do not hesitate to reach out to us. That’s what we’re here for. 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. You can click here to learn more about all the member services PAFSO has to offer. 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