Proposed changes to Civil Service Act raise job security questions

Recent emails from the premier and his top deputy minister to members of the public service, coupled with legislation being debated at Province House, have some bureaucrats wondering about job security.

Among the many proposed changes in Bill 1 are amendments to the Civil Service Act, which would give deputy department heads the ability to fire non-unionized bureaucrats without cause. Compensation would be based on years of service, but the thresholds would be determined in regulations yet to be released.

As the legislation makes its way through Province House, it coincides with recent emails public servants received from Premier Tim Houston and his top deputy, Tracey Taweel.

Houston writes that Nova Scotia finds itself in a period of significant change and that the province needs "a strong, innovative public service."

"The simple reality is that the public service must change," he writes. "The world is changing and so must we."

Looking for problem solvers

The premier goes on to say that he believes all workplaces have two types of people: problem solvers and problem stretchers.

"Our province needs you to be a problem solver who is sympathetic to the needs of the Nova Scotians you are serving with a devotion to finding a solution to their challenge or issue. Our civil service needs problem solvers and I have faith in you to be a problem solver."

Taweel's email talks about engagement opportunities for employees to share thoughts on how to make the public service "a more agile, innovative, and productive workforce."

"In times of economic challenges, our ability to be efficient is key, and the growing expectations of citizens demand heightened responsiveness, creativity, and collaboration. We must be a driving force in creating solutions that anticipate and address the future for the citizens we serve."

NDP Leader Claudia Chender told reporters last week that the public service is supposed to be non-partisan.

She said the letters from Houston and Taweel, along with the contents of Bill 1, put that at risk. Bill 1 also formally dissolves Communications Nova Scotia, the government entity required by legislation to produce non-partisan communication materials for the public.

Government communications will now fall to the executive council office, which supports the premier and cabinet.

"If they aren't seen as solving the problem in the way the government wants it solved, which we've already seen this session is not always the best way — they walk it back all the time — well, then they might get stretched right out of government," Chender told reporters.

Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said he's hearing concerns from civil servants about the situation, a sentiment multiple government employees have shared with CBC News.

But Twila Grosse, the cabinet minister responsible for the Public Service Commission, said there are no threats implied by Bill 1 or the letters Houston and Taweel sent to staff.

"The whole idea is involving our employees, giving them the opportunity to give us ideas, again, as to how we can become more innovative, how we can become more agile, how we can become more responsive to the changing needs of Nova Scotians," she said in a recent interview.

Grosse said the government wants the changes proposed to the Civil Service Act in Bill 1 to "give us greater flexibility" to be able to respond quickly to "changing needs in the public service."

The province's largest union is also monitoring the situation.

Sandra Mullen, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, said new governments often reach out to members of the public service at the beginning of a mandate.

But Mullen said the timing is interesting given what's happening with the U.S. government as public employees there are being asked to justify what they do at work.

"It's kind of alarming to read that you're looking at problem solvers, problem stretchers — those kinds of concerns resonate with our members for sure," she said in a recent interview.

Mullen said her members are watching what's happening to non-unionized workers as the NSGEU engages in bargaining with the province and has concerns about the status of job security language in their next contract.

• Houston plans to withdraw changes that would have allowed AG to be fired without cause

• N.S. premier may adjust plans to amend access to information rules

Taweel was not made available for an interview.

A statement attributed to her said the government wants "to ensure that employees understand how valued they are and how important their views are in modernizing the public service."

It goes on to say that there will be no penalties for employees who decline to share ideas or whose ideas "are not actioned."

"Civil servants interact with people every day," said Taweel. "Listening to the ideas and experiences of those who understand the system and have ideas to make it better can only help improve how we serve and support Nova Scotians."