PM VOWS TO REPAIR PHOENIX PAY ISSUES

GATINEAU, QUE. • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is trumpeting the new Canada Child Benefit that just landed in parents’ bank accounts across the country, but the government’s inability to properly pay tens of thousands of federal workers is proving to be a costly distraction for the Liberals.

Speaking at a news conference in Gatineau Wednesday to highlight the CCB payments that have started flowing, Trudeau promised to fix problems with the Phoenix pay system that have resulted in more than 80,000 public servants not being paid what they are owed.

Federal officials apologized this week for continuing issues with the new pay system, but admit it could take months to completely fix the problem.

Trudeau said the government is taking the situation “very seriously” and he is personally getting involved.

He said he has asked Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick to oversee getting the Phoenix system functioning properly and that everyone is paid what they are owed.

“We are working right away on helping the most vulnerable, while we make sure that the system functions for everyone, and it’s something that I have engaged in personally and tasked the clerk of the Privy Council to oversee. We are making sure that this situation gets fixed for the families who are needing our help,” Trudeau said.