Public Service Commission Essay Example
Public Service Commission Essay Example

Public Service Commission Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (823 words)
  • Published: April 15, 2017
  • Type: Case Study
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The Public Service Commission in Canada is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the employment system in the public service sector and ensuring political impartiality. This self-regulating body reports to parliament and uses the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) to carry out its oversight duties.

The commission has transferred recruitment powers to section heads and other government agencies. Due to differing views and objectives between the cabinet and the public service commission, tensions are likely to arise between the two bodies. In order to examine these tensions in Canada's parliamentary system, we must first assess the roles and responsibilities of each organ and determine where the sources of tension lie. The executive power in Canada resides with the prime minister and cabinet, who carry out government policies and decision-making, including budget allocation for financed projects.

On the other hand, the Public Service Commission ha

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s various duties and responsibilities that must be fulfilled independently. The Treasury Board collaborates with the commission to advise the cabinet. The commission's tasks include guaranteeing the competence of professionals in the public sector, remaining impartial in handling divergences, and representing public interests. The commission is entitled to certain rights, such as performing employment fairly and equitably. Additionally, the heads of each organization are responsible for overseeing all of the organization's activities.

Regarding promotions within the service commission, the commission possesses explicit authority to recruit from the general public and make a report to the parliament regarding such recruitment and promotions. The commission has the ability to delegate these powers to specific government departments or agencies in situations where they need to fill their staffing requirements. The commission's role would then be to supervise departmenta

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recruitment by scrutinizing, analyzing, and reviewing the policy framework along with assessing individual transactions in a precise manner.

The top management adheres to a ranking system, while the commission and treasury board bargain with the government on behalf of public civil servants. Group bargaining is valued and mutual agreements are reached with unions. Additionally, the commission operates a training school aimed at unifying the learning and improvement requirements of public servants.

The Canadian centre for management development controls the management of the school, which is responsible for equipping public service servants with the necessary skills to serve Canadians. In addition to this, the commission also focuses on ethics and corruption in the public sector. The employment act of the service commission dictates the political activities civil servants are permitted to undertake, ensuring impartiality in political issues. This includes refraining from supporting any party, candidate, or nomination during or after an election. Despite these efforts, the commission is currently facing public mistrust and criticism for its perceived failure to carry out its duties effectively.

The cabinet has criticized the workings of the Public Service Commission, suggesting that public servants need to improve their service delivery and be more accountable in their handling of finances. At a public forum in Toronto, the public service pledged to become more sensitive to the public and establish partnerships with other service industries. Tensions between the cabinet and the Public Service Commission arose due to employment issues. The commission oversees the recruitment and promotion of all public servants, but it was noted that 70% of federal executive class public servants were set to retire, potentially leaving a gap in skills and experience among

new recruits.

One major concern about the commission is the lack of awareness among Canadians regarding its activities and operations, which contributes to apprehension towards it. Moreover, the commission's public image has been marred by downsizing issues for several years. The cabinet has echoed the public's perception of the commission as slow in addressing issues. Specifically, Canadians believe that there is excessive government oversight and numerous regulations, requirements, and procedures that cause delays within the public service. Consequently, Canadians hold a low opinion of both the government and its employees.

The commission is being blamed for a decrease in public trust and is seen as an unresponsive bureaucracy with poor performance in monitoring and ensuring ethical conduct. The cabinet also feels unjustly implicated in this issue and urges the commission to take action. The issue of empowerment is also causing division in the Canadian public service, with many unnecessary obstacles hindering service delivery. Public servants recommend giving more authority to address problems at their level instead of delaying resolution and appearing ineffective to the public.

There are already several enhancements in progress that only require leadership initiatives for implementation. The Public Service Commission plays a crucial role in promoting ethical and moral conduct among public servants and guaranteeing that they are non-partisan, thus fulfilling the government's commitments to the people. As the public becomes increasingly aware of the need for a skilled, professional, and neutral civil service to tackle modern challenges, it is essential to allow the commission to do its job and receive support from the cabinet rather than facing criticisms.

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