(Photo of Luc Berthold/courtesy of Parliament of Canada website)
October 20, 2020 - OTTAWA – On Friday, October 16, a delegation from the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) led by its President, Greg Phillips, met with Luc Berthold, Member of Parliament for Mégantic—L'Érable, Québec, in his capacity as the Conservative Party of Canada’s Official Opposition Shadow Minister for the Treasury Board.
The meeting with Mr. Berthold came on the heels of the election of the Hon. Erin O’Toole as the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. “It was crucial for us to raise issues of importance to our members early in the leader and shadow minister’s mandates,” said Mr. Phillips. “It also upholds our long-standing tradition of working with all political parties represented in Canada’s Parliament as we continue to hold the government to account for the benefit of our members.”
699 leave and the haphazard re-entry into the workplace amongst topics covered
During the meeting, CAPE conveyed its concerns about the handling of Code 699 (Other Leave with Pay), noting its uneven interpretation and application across the public service. CAPE had surveyed its members on this issue through a COVID-19 survey earlier this year, which had revealed a high rate of refusal as reported by hundreds of respondents. The rate at which Code 699 was being approved by managers differed widely from department to department with refusals decided on questionable grounds.
Another concern raised was the haphazard and rushed way in which some departments have been bringing federal public service employees back into the workplace, especially where telework is otherwise possible and while the country still grapples with the spread of COVID-19.
In terms of getting the economy back on track, Mr. Berthold acknowledged the party’s interest in seeking input from unions on ways to increase efficiencies within the federal public service, expressing little appetite for downsizing measures at this time and looking for alternative cost-saving measures to protect federal employees’ jobs. Discussing the party’s economic recovery plan, Mr. Berthold recognized the important contribution federal economists ⎯ many of whom are CAPE members ⎯ could make to help rebuild the economy post-COVID-19.
CAPE stressed the importance of upholding human rights and its support for social justice, as well as its interest in learning more about the party’s stance on anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, LGBTQ2+ and racial discrimination, and gender equality. Mr. Berthold was adamant about the desire of the party’s new leadership to be known as one that promotes a diverse and inclusive society.
In attendance
Participants from the Office of the Shadow Minister for the Treasury Board:
Luc Berthold - Member of Parliament (Mégantic—L'Érable, Québec)
Participants from CAPE:
Greg Phillips - President
Katia Theriault - Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Dina Epale - Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Advisor
