Public Service Staffing Complaints Regulations (SOR/2006-6)

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

• 1 (1) The following definitions apply in these Regulations.

  Act

  Act means the Public Service Employment Act. (Loi)

  contact information

  contact information means a telephone number, mailing and electronic address. (coordonnées)

  day

  day means a calendar day. (jour)

  Executive Director

  Executive Director[Repealed, SOR/2014-250, s. 2]

  intervenor

  intervenor means anyone who is allowed under subsection 19(4) to intervene in the hearing of a complaint. (intervenant)

  party

  party means anyone who has a right to be heard under subsection 65(3), section 75, subsection 79(1) or section 85 of the Act. (partie)

  respondent

  respondent means

  • (a) the deputy head, in the case of a complaint that relates to a lay-off, revocation, appointment or proposed appointment in respect of which the Commission has authorized the deputy head under section 15 of the Act to exercise or perform any of the Commission’s powers and functions; or

  • (b) the Commission, in any other case. (intimé)

  signature

  signature means a handwritten or electronic signature that consists of one or more letters, characters, numbers or other symbols in digital form and that is incorporated in, attached to or associated with an electronic document or electronic information. (signature)

  standardized test

  standardized test[Repealed, SOR/2011-116, s. 1]

  writing

  writing includes, with respect to a person with a disability that affects the capacity to communicate in writing, any means of communication that can be used and understood by that person and that may be retained. (écrit)

• Marginal note:Canadian Human Rights Commission

  (2) For the purposes of these Regulations, the Canadian Human Rights Commission is a participant in a proceeding in relation to a complaint if the Canadian Human Rights Commission has given notice under subsection 20(3) that it intends to make submissions regarding an issue raised by the complainant involving the interpretation or the application of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

• Marginal note:Accessibility Commissioner

  (3) For the purposes of these Regulations, the Accessibility Commissioner is a participant in a proceeding in relation to a complaint if the Accessibility Commissioner has given notice under subsection 20.1(3) that they intend to make submissions regarding an issue raised by the complainant involving the contravention of a provision of regulations made under subsection 117(1) of the Accessible Canada Act.

Application

Marginal note:Application

2 These Regulations apply to all complaints made to the Board under subsection 65(1) or section 74, subsection 77(1) or section 83 of the Act.

General Provisions

Marginal note:When notice considered received

3 A notice that is sent to a party, an intervenor, the Canadian Human Rights Commission or the Accessibility Commissioner is considered to have been received

• (a) if the notice is sent by electronic mail, fax, or other electronic means, on the day on which it is sent;

• (b) if it is sent by courier or delivered by hand, on the day on which it is received; or

• (c) if it is sent by mail, on the day that is six days after the date of the postmark or of the postage meter impression authorized by the Canada Post Corporation, or if both the postmark and postage meter impression appear on the envelope, on the later of the dates indicated.

Marginal note:Alternate methods of providing notices and other documents

4 Despite any provisions of these Regulations, the Board may, in the interest of fairness, establish alternate methods of providing notices and other documents.

Marginal note:Amendment of time

• 5 (1) The Board may extend or reduce the time to do any act or file any notice or other document in relation to a complaint.

• (2) [Repealed, SOR/2022-243, s. 3]

• Marginal note:Determination

  (3) The Board must determine whether it is in the interest of fairness to extend or reduce the time and, if it is, the length of the extension or reduction.

6 [Repealed, SOR/2011-116, s. 2]

Marginal note:Computation of time

7 A time period calculated under these Regulations that ends on a Saturday or a holiday is extended to end on the next day after that is not a Saturday or a holiday.

Marginal note:Consolidation of proceedings

8 To ensure the expeditious resolution of complaints, the Board may direct that proceedings be consolidated and may issue directions in respect of the conduct of the consolidated proceedings.

Marginal note:Informal and expeditious proceeding

8.1 Proceedings before the Board may be conducted as informally and expeditiously as the circumstances and the considerations of fairness permit.

Marginal note:Complaint considered withdrawn

8.2 The Board may, on its own initiative, send a notice of status review to each of the parties that requires them to make submissions stating the reasons why the complaint should not be considered to be withdrawn and, if there is no response within the period specified by the Board, may consider the complaint to be withdrawn.

Marginal note:Technical irregularity

9 No proceeding is invalid by reason only of a defect in form or a technical irregularity.

Making a Complaint

Marginal note:Time for making complaint

• 10 (1) A complaint must be received by the Board no later than 15 days after

  • (a) the day on which the complainant receives notice of the lay-off, revocation, appointment or proposed appointment to which the complaint relates; or

  • (b) the date specified in the notice, if it is a public notice.

• Marginal note:Receipt of complaint

  (2) A complaint is considered to have been received by the Board

  • (a) if the complaint is sent by electronic mail, fax or other electronic means, on the day on which it is sent;

  • (b) if it is sent by courier, on the day on which it is sent;

  • (c) if it is delivered by hand, on the day on which it is received; or

  • d) if it is sent by mail, on the day that is the date of the postmark or of the postage meter impression authorized by the Canada Post Corporation, or if both the postmark and postage meter impression appear on the envelope, on the later of the dates indicated.

Marginal note:Form and content of complaint

11 A complaint must be filed with the Board in writing and must include

• (a) the name and contact information of the complainant that can be disclosed to all parties;

• (b) [Repealed, SOR/2011-116, s. 5]

• (c) the name and contact information of the complainant’s authorized representative, if any;

• (d) the number or identifier, if any, of the process to which the complaint relates;

• (e) a copy of the notice of lay-off, revocation, appointment or proposed appointment to which the complaint relates;

• (f) the name of the department or agency, branch or sector involved in the process to which the complaint relates;

• (g) a reference to the provision of the Act under which the complaint is made;

• (h) a full factual description of the events, circumstances or actions giving rise to the complaint, to the extent known by the complainant;

• (i) the signature of the complainant or their authorized representative; and

• (j) the date of the complaint.

Marginal note:Procedure on receipt of complaint

12 On receiving a complaint, the Board must acknowledge its receipt and send a copy of it and all supporting documents to the respondent.

Marginal note:Names and addresses of parties

13 Within 10 days after receiving a copy of the complaint and all supporting documents, the respondent must provide the Board with the names and business addresses of the other parties, including their electronic mail addresses, if any.

Marginal note:Copies to be provided

14 On receiving the names and addresses of the other parties, the Board must send a copy of the complaint and all supporting documents to each of the other parties.

Alternate Dispute Resolution Processes

Mediation

Marginal note:Participation in mediation

• 15 (1) The Board must schedule mediation for a complaint unless

  • (a) the complainant informs the Board, no later than 25 days after the date of the letter by which the Board acknowledges receipt of the complaint, that the complainant does not wish to participate in mediation; or

  • (b) the respondent informs the Board, no later than 25 days after they receive a copy of the complaint, that they do not wish to participate in mediation.

• Marginal note:Request to mediate

  (2) The complainant or respondent may, before the date of the hearing and with the agreement of the other party, request the Board to refer the complaint to mediation.