Trudeau vows to fix problems with pay system
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.
The problems have also extended to members of Parliament, some of who quietly acknowledge they have not been paid in recent weeks.
Federal officials apologized this week for continuing issues with the new pay system, but admit it could take months to completely fix.
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,” Trudeau said.
Asked whether heads will roll, Trudeau said the government’s focus at this point is to fix the situation and get payments first to those who most need them.
The government has brought in more people to catch up on the pay backlog, he said.
Public servants have been complaining for months about problems with their pay stubs, not receiving enough in benefits and even being paid too much. Some have experienced financial hardship.
Ottawa has promised to make emergency payments to some and is looking at ways to compensate others for expenses incurred, such as missed mortgage payments.
Chris Aylward, executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the country’s largest federal public service union, said he’s encouraged Trudeau is getting involved.
The Liberals made a “gross error in judgment” in trying to implement the new system this year when it was evident there were still significant bugs, he said.
“We’ve got a problem on our hands and that problem is Phoenix. Unfortunately, they’re more concerned about making political statements around the (Canada Child Benefit) than paying their own employees.”
Phoenix, initiated by the then-Conservative government to replace a 40-year-old system, has been plagued by glitches since its rollout began in February.