Open Letter to Denis Coderre

December 12, 2003  

The Honourable Denis Coderre
President of the Queen's Privy Council
for Canada, Federal Interlocutor for Métis
and Non-Status Indians, Minister
responsible for La Francophonie, and
Minister responsible for the Office of
Indian Residential Schools Resolution
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario      K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Coderre:

              I want, first of all, to congratulate you on your appointment as President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Minister responsible for La Francophonie, and Minister responsible for the Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution.   In your capacity as the President of the Queen's Privy Council, I understand that you have assumed responsibility for the Public Services Human Resources Management Agency.    

              The PSAC and our members who are directly employed by the government of Canada were surprised to learn that the government has divided its management responsibilities into three departments and agencies under three separate Ministers.   While we have yet to comprehend the logic of the decision, we nonetheless need to address the many issues related to the implementation of Bill C-25 and other public sector modernization “initiatives”.     

                While the PSAC strenuously opposed Bill C-25, and continues to believe that it is, in many respects, the wrong approach to harmonious labour-management relations, we have nonetheless decided to participate in the implementation process.

              In this regard, we have met, on many occasions, with Monique Boudrias and her staff, and are in the final stages of agreement on the specific involvement of PSAC officers and staff on the Union/Management Advisory Committee, the Deputy Minister Sub-Committees and Working Groups, and what was the Human Resources Modernization Implementation Secretariat.

              I was personally pleased to read that Monique Boudrias will continue to play a pivotal role in this process as the Executive Vice-President of the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada.   I take this position for two reasons.   First, she has been open and transparent in identifying the government's position and willing to engage in meaningful consultations with my union.   Second, her continued responsibilities in this area represent the only consistency in the government's management of the federal public sector.   We will continue to work with her and her staff on an ongoing basis.  

              My office is currently assessing the impact of other changes in the Privy Council office, and will likely comment on some of your responsibilities and the PCO's role in the government's newly-defined security apparatus in the very near future.   Given your responsibilities with regard to Public Service Modernization and security, it would be important for you to meet with myself and other representatives of the PSAC at an early date.  

Sincerely,

Nycole Turmel
National President