Public Service Staffing Tribunal
Symbol of the Government of Canada
Skip to content | Skip to institutional links

Common menu bar links

 

Institutional links

About the PSST

Act and Regulations

Complaint Process

Decisions

Dispute Resolution

Policies and Directives

Completed Access to Information Requests

Proactive Disclosure

Site Map

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Exchange of Information

The Complaint Process

Mediation

General Information

Does the PSST have the right to disclose personal information, such as home address, to other parties involved in my complaint?

The Privacy Act states that, generally-speaking, personal information under the control of a government institution cannot be disclosed by the institution without the consent of the individual to whom it relates.

If you provided the Tribunal with your home address when submitting your complaint either on the form provided by the Tribunal or on another document, you have implicitly given your consent to the Tribunal to disclose this information.

The Tribunal does not, however, require a complainant to provide his/her home address on the complaint form. In fact, the Tribunal encourages complainants to use a business address in order to ensure that their home address is protected. For this reason, the explanatory notes at the top of the PSST’s complaint form read as follows:

3. The addresses you provide will be disclosed to all parties to the complaint. (A business address is therefore preferable).

4. A copy of the complaint as well as any supporting documentation will be forwarded to all parties.

Complainants should be aware that whatever address they choose to provide to the Tribunal will be disclosed to all parties to the complaint, as will any other information they include in their complaint document. It is best, therefore, to exercise caution when providing personal or other sensitive information with your complaint.

To what Organizations does the Public Service Employment Act apply?

Generally-speaking, the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) applies only to departments and agencies for whom the Treasury Board is the employer – that is, the departments listed in Schedule I of the Financial Administration Act (FAA) and the agencies listed in Schedule IV. Since there are a few exceptions to the rule, you should check with your employer or your union representative to determine whether or not the Act applies in your case.

The staffing provisions of the PSEA, including those regarding the Public Service Staffing Tribunal, do not apply to separate agencies named in Schedule V of the FAA, such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

What are my options for making my concerns with a staffing action known and possibly for filing a complaint?

First of all, you may request an informal discussion with the hiring manager to raise any concerns or questions that you might have regarding his/her decision to not consider you for the position. Informal discussion may help you to understand the reasons for the decision. It also allows the manager to correct any mistakes in the process and possibly reconsider the decision.

A formal complaint to the Public Service Staffing Tribunal may be made once the final notification of an internal appointment or proposed appointment has been issued. The grounds for a complaint to the Tribunal are:

  • Abuse of authority in the application of merit
  • Abuse of authority in the choice of process (advertised or non-advertised process)
  • Failure to assess the complainant in the language of their choice.

The Public Service Commission has the authority to investigate external appointments, concerns related to possible political influence or fraud in a selection process or an internal appointment where appointment authority has not been delegated.

Deputy heads have the authority to revoke internal appointments or take corrective action where they have concluded, after investigation, that an error, omission or improper conduct affected the selection for appointment.

What does abuse of authority mean?

The Public Service Employment Act does not define abuse of authority, but states that any reference in the Act to abuse of authority includes bad faith and personal favouritism. In a recent decision, Jeannette Tibbs and the Deputy Minister of National Defence, the Tribunal concluded that abuse of authority is more than mere errors or omissions, and that it must involve wrongdoing. In other words, abuse of authority will always include improper conduct, but the degree to which the conduct is improper may determine whether or not it constitutes abuse of authority.

The Tribunal also found that the five categories of abuse identified by David Philip Jones and Anne S. de Villars in Principles of Administrative Law (Toronto : Thomson Carswell, 2004) apply to all forms of discretionary administrative decisions. The five categories are:

  1. When a delegate exercises his/her/its discretion with an improper intention in mind (including acting for an unauthorized purpose, in bad faith, or on irrelevant considerations).
  2. When a delegate acts on inadequate material (including where there is no evidence, or without considering relevant matters).
  3. When there is an improper result (including unreasonable, discriminatory, or retroactive administrative actions).
  4. When the delegate exercises discretion on an erroneous view of the law.
  5. When a delegate refuses to exercise his/her/its discretion by adopting a policy which fetters the ability to consider individual cases with an open mind.

What these five types of abuse all have in common is that Parliament could not have intended to delegate the authority to act in such an outrageous, unreasonable or unacceptable way.

Where they differ, however, is with regard to intent: The first type requires improper intention. In the other types, the delegate may have acted in good faith, but still abused his or her discretionary power.

Who are the parties to a complaint?

The PSEA sets out the parties with a right to be heard for each of the four types of complaints:

  • Internal appointments
  • Failure of corrective action
  • Lay-offs and
  • Revocation of appointment

In all cases, the complainant, the deputy head and the Public Service Commission (PSC) – or their representatives – are entitled to be heard by the Tribunal and are therefore considered “parties”. The deputy head (or the PSC, where there is no delegation of staffing authority) is sometimes referred to as the “respondent” to the complaint.

Under the PSEA, different persons or organizations are given a right to be heard, depending on the type of complaint and are referred to as "other parties" by the Tribunal. The following list sets out "the other parties" by type of complaint:

  • Internal appointments - the person appointed or proposed for appointment [s. 79. (1)]
  • Failure of corrective action - the person appointed or proposed for appointment as a result of the implementation of corrective action (s. 85)
  • Lay-off - every other employee in the part of the organization where the lay-off occurs [s. 65 (3)]
  • Revocation of appointment - no other person has the right to be heard in the case of a revocation of appointment (s. 75).

What rights do "other parties" have?

Other parties are given a right to be heard because they have a direct interest in the outcome of the complaint. For this reason, they must be provided all of the information regarding the complaint so that they may, if necessary, prepare their response to the complainant's allegations or to any request made of the Tribunal by the complainant or respondent.

Do "other parties" have to participate in the process?

No, other parties have the right to be heard, but may choose not to fully exercise this right. Instead, they may choose simply to be kept informed of any developments in the case. Other parties who choose to fully exercise their right by submitting a reply to a complainant's allegations should familiarize themselves with the complaint process by consulting the Tribunal's Procedural Guide or the PSST Regulations.

Exchange of Information

What is the purpose of the exchange of information?

The exchange of information is an opportunity for both parties to meet to discuss the complaint, listen to each other’s concerns and cooperate in disclosing all relevant information.

Who should initiate the exchange of information?

Both parties have a responsibility to provide the other with information pertinent to the complaint. Either party may contact the other to provide or request information.

How should the information be exchanged?

The exchange of information requires more than the transmittal of a list of requested information by one party and copies of the requested documents by the other. Parties involved in the exchange of information should engage in a dialogue. The best way to do this is by a face-to-face meeting or, if not possible, a telephone conversation. The exchange of information is meant to be a “two-way street”, where those involved in the process – the complainant, the bargaining agent representative, the hiring manager, a member or members of the selection board, and/or the HR specialist – have an opportunity to explain their point of view and respond to any questions about the staffing process.

What kind of information can I ask for?

Generally-speaking, you may request information and documents that are relevant to your complaint. A few examples of the type of information you could request include: the statement of merit criteria for the position in question, the organization’s human resources plan, the organization’s policy on the choice of process, your assessment results etc.

Am I entitled to receive a copy of whatever I ask for related to the appointment process?

No, the information must be relevant to the complaint. A mere suspicion raised by a party that a document or documents may be relevant amounts to a fishing expedition. In other words, it is not enough to speculate that something might be uncovered if the request for the information is granted.

What information is considered to be relevant for the exchange of information?

In Oddie and the Deputy Minister of National Defence et al., the Tribunal referred to the definition of the word “relevant” contained in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary (2004): “bearing on or having reference to the matter in hand”. The Tribunal determined that there must be a clear link between the information sought and the substance of the complaint for the information to be considered relevant.

Would information regarding the successful candidate(s) be considered relevant?

It depends on the nature of the complaint. For example, where a complainant alleges that he or she was treated differently from the successful candidate and is able to produce enough background information to support the allegation and to demonstrate a clear link to the complaint, the results of the successful candidate may be considered relevant.

Does "information" refer only to written documentation?

No, it also refers to any explanations provided orally in person or over the phone.

What can I do if the other party refuses to provide the information that I have requested?

In some instances – for example, where the release of certain information could threaten national security or endanger a person’s safety or affect the validity or continued use of a standardized test – it may not be possible to release the information requested.

However, if you think that the information you have requested is relevant and the other party refuses to provide it, you may ask the Tribunal to order the other party to produce the information. Your request must be in writing and must include:

  • Your name, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address;
  • The Tribunal’s file number for the complaint;
  • A detailed explanation of the reasons for the request;
  • Your signature; and
  • The date.

You may use the Tribunal’s Form 3 for this purpose.

What factors will the Tribunal consider when deciding whether to order a party to produce information?

The Tribunal must be satisfied that providing the information requested will not present any risk to national security or a person’s safety or affect the validity of a test.

The Tribunal will also consider whether the request for information is clear enough to leave no doubt as to what information is being requested. In addition, the Tribunal must be satisfied that disclosure of the information will not cause undue prejudice to any of the parties.

What kind of information can the Tribunal order a party to produce?

The Tribunal will order a party to produce only information relevant to the complaint.

Is all personal information protected by the Privacy Act?

Under the Privacy Act, personal information held by a government institution may be disclosed either for the purpose of complying with a subpoena or warrant issued or order made by a court, person or body with jurisdiction to compel the production of information or for the purpose of complying with rules of court relating to the production of information.

Since the Tribunal has the power to compel "any person to produce any documents and things that may be relevant" under section 99 of the PSEA, it may order a party to produce personal information relevant to a complaint.

In addition, the Tribunal’s Regulations stipulate that the parties must exchange all information regarding the complaint.

Can the Tribunal order a party to provide me with an admission or an acknowledgement concerning an issue raised in my complaint?

No, the Tribunal does not have the power to compel a party to provide another party with what may amount to an admission or acknowledgement. However, a party could choose to do so.

Can the Tribunal place conditions on the release of information?

Yes, the Tribunal may attach any number of conditions on the release of information – for example:

  • the information must be viewed at a specific location
  • the viewing of the information must be overseen by one or more specified persons
  • the information must not be photocopied or transcribed; or
  • the information may be released only to a party’s representative provided that it is not given directly to the party making the request.

Can I use the information obtained as a result of a Tribunal order for purposes other than the complaint?

No, any information obtained as a result of an order from the Tribunal may only be used for the purposes of the complaint.

The Complaint Process

Do I have to identify myself when filing a complaint?

Yes. If the Tribunal receives a complaint form where the name, contact information and signature of the complainant do not appear, the Tribunal will dismiss the complaint.

Section 11 of the Tribunal’s Regulations requires that a complaint be filed in writing and include, among other things, the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, fax number, electronic mail address and signature (or the signature of an authorized representative). The Tribunal has dismissed several anonymous complaints because the complainants did not comply with these requirements.

Will the Tribunal investigate my concerns about a selection process even if I haven't applied for the job?

No, the Tribunal is not an investigative body. Rather, it is an independent administrative tribunal with a mandate to render decisions regarding staffing complaints.

There are other possible ways of raising your concerns, however. Under the Public Service Employment Act, the Public Service Commission and deputy heads have the authority to conduct investigations in certain circumstances. For more information on investigations, you may wish to contact the Public Service Commission, your human resources advisor or your union representative.

In addition, under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, public servants may make disclosures of potential wrongdoing to the Senior Officer in their department responsible for receiving and dealing with disclosures or, in cases where a Senior Officer has not been named, directly to the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner.

Can another person file a complaint on my behalf?

According to the Public Service Staffing Tribunal Regulations, either you or your authorized representative may sign the complaint. Your representative should submit both your complaint and a letter signed and dated by you indicating that he/she is authorized to act on your behalf for a specified period of time.

Can a complaint be filed upon receiving a notification of consideration?

No, you cannot file a complaint after the notification of consideration. A complaint may be filed only after the final notification of the appointment or the proposed appointment.

However, at this time, you may request an informal discussion with the hiring manager to discuss his/her decision to eliminate you from further consideration.

How do I file a complaint?

Once you have received notification of an appointment or proposed appointment, a revocation of an appointment or a lay-off, you may file a complaint with the Tribunal by completing a Notice of Complaint form and sending it to the Tribunal within 15 days of the notification. A copy of the documentation related to your complaint such as the staffing advertisement, the notification of appointment or proposed appointment, the revocation or the lay-off should be included with your complaint and will be shared with all parties.

What happens if the Notice of Complaint form is incomplete?

In order to not delay the processing of a complaint, the Notice of Complaint form and any other documentation to the complaint should be complete. It is the responsibility of the complainant to provide all the required information. The Tribunal may contact the complainant to request the necessary information be provided within a certain time frame.

Should I include sensitive or confidential information in my complaint?

Copies of all documents included with the complaint will be sent to the other parties by the Tribunal. Therefore, it is best to exercise caution when providing sensitive or confidential information with your complaint. It may be more appropriate to disclose such information during the exchange of information or the hearing itself.

In the event that a complainant has submitted his/her complaint and later reconsiders the inclusion of certain information of a sensitive or confidential nature, the complaint should request that the Tribunal not disclose the particular information in question. The Tribunal will determine whether the information should be declared confidential. If no such request or determination is made, the Tribunal is obliged to disclose all the information contained in the complaint file to the other parties.

Can the time limit for filing a complaint be extended?

The 15-day time limit to file a complaint is a strict one. In order to ensure that a complaint reaches the Tribunal within the 15 days, a complaint should be sent by e-mail or fax*. An extension of the deadline for filing a complaint may be requested in exceptional circumstances where the Tribunal finds that it is in the interest of fairness to do so. For example, an extension was granted in a case where the complaint was received by the Tribunal seven days after the complaint period closing date, but was later proven to have been mailed four days before the deadline.

*It is important to note that the PSST Regulations require a hard copy of the complaint with the complainant’s original signature.

How do I go about requesting an extension?

Generally speaking, requests or “motions” – such as a request to extend a time limit – may be presented to the Tribunal at any time before a decision is rendered with respect to a complaint.

Motions presented to the Tribunal prior to a hearing are made in writing and should specify what is being requested and why. The party presenting the motion must notify the other parties as soon as possible of the intent to present a motion, as the other parties have a right to provide their comments.

A motion may also be presented orally during the course of a hearing – for example, a party may request an adjournment due to unforeseen circumstances. Reasons for the request must be provided.

Is there a time limit for making an allegation of discrimination?

If you wish to raise an issue involving discrimination as defined by the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA), it is best to do so at the same time as you file the Notice of Complaint. You must also provide notice to the Canadian Human Rights Commission as soon as possible. Under the PSEA, the Tribunal has the authority to interpret and apply the provision of the CHRA in the context of a staffing process.

What can I do if I am not satisfied with a decision of the Tribunal?

Pursuant to s. 102(1) of the Public Service Employment Act, “every decision of the Tribunal is final and may not be questioned or reviewed in any court.”

However, if you are not satisfied with a decision, you may file a challenge before the Federal Court by initiating judicial review proceedings. General information about judicial review applications can be found on the Court’s website.

Information about locations and coordinates for Courts Administration staff can be found at the Federal Court's Contact Us page.

Mediation

Who will mediate complaints at the Tribunal?

The members of the Tribunal will sometimes conduct mediation sessions. In addition, the Director of Dispute Resolution Services will act as mediator, as will other Tribunal staff members. If necessary, the Tribunal may engage external mediators both in the National Capital Region and other regions of the country.

Is mediation a mandatory step in the complaint process?

Mediation is a voluntary process at the Tribunal. However, it is assumed that parties will participate in mediation unless they indicate, within the established time frame, that they do not wish to do so. If a party decides to opt out of mediation at the beginning of the complaint process, he/she can still request mediation services from the Tribunal later on in the process.

Is the mediation process confidential?

Participants in mediation will be required to sign a mediation agreement which outlines the confidential nature of the mediation process. The agreement states that information exchanged during mediation is considered to be confidential and, as such, cannot be admitted as evidence in any subsequent administrative or judicial proceeding by one of the parties - except for information provided by that same party or information that can be obtained independently from other sources.

The mediator will disclose information revealed during mediation only if required to do so by law or if there is a real or potential threat to human life or safety in not disclosing the information.

If a member of the Tribunal acts as a mediator in an unsuccessful mediation session, will that same member hear the case once it proceeds to a hearing?

A member who has conducted a mediation session where no agreement has been reached will not be assigned to hear the complaint when it goes to a hearing.

What happens if the Terms of Settlement are not respected by one of the parties?

If one of the parties failed to respect the terms of a mediated settlement, it would be possible for the other party to seek legal advice with a view to having the Terms of Settlement enforced as a legally-binding document.

In order to ensure that the mediated settlement is entirely enforced, the parties could agree to include a commitment in the Terms of Settlement to meet on a given date and follow up on the implementation of the agreed upon measures.

For more information, please consult the Dispute Resolution section.
Date Modified: 2013-5-15

Top of Page
Important Notices