Transcript
Transcript: What It Means to Be a Public Servant
[00:00:00 CSPS title page. Text on screen: What Unites Us, Defines Us; Values and Ethics in Today's Federal Public Service.]
[00:00:05 Clerk John Hannaford appears on stage at a lectern, addressing the audience. The view quickly changes to John Hannaford full screen. Text on screen: John Hannaford, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet.]
John Hannaford: This is the second day, obviously, of a symposium that I think has been really quite inspiring to me. There has been a depth to this conversation which is, I think, reflective of an appetite for us to grapple with some of the core issues that we are confronting as a community and some of the things that define us as a profession. And that, in and of itself, I think is, as I say, it is inspiring to me personally. It's inspiring of the vibrancy of this group. It's inspiring in the sense that I think we are grappling with things that matter, and that's to the strength of us, as an institution, and the future of this body.
I want to start by saying, though, that we are gathered on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, and the importance of statements like this link us back to the discussions we've been having. Values and ethics are rooted in the respect for people, and respect for people is rooted in the work that we are doing towards reconciliation. Wherever you are today, whether it's in the National Capital Region, or across Canada, or abroad, I encourage you to learn the history of the area you find yourselves and to learn from the Indigenous peoples.
As has been evident from the conversations we've been having, we learn enormously from those around us. About a year ago, we launched this dialogue on values and ethics. And I was struck by the enthusiasm with which public servants entered into this dialogue. I enjoyed engaging with public servants at all levels and getting a new perspective on what we're doing on behalf of Canadians.
Many of the conversations have really centred around the theme of what it is to be a public servant. You're all going to have different answers to that question based on your own experiences, the job you do, the institution you serve, and the way that you serve Canadians. For my own part, the service of democracy is one of the most inspiring aspects of the work that we perform together. We are a central pillar of our democratic system, and the democratic system is a central pillar of our society. So, we make a very direct contribution to something that is really fundamental to the society that we serve.
And I want every public servant across our organization to feel proud, not just of their individual achievements or the achievements of their team or department, but in being a public servant. And I must say I found it enormously gratifying to watch the words flash up on the screen earlier. Service should be enormously prominent, as should be pride, and I hope this conversation reinforces that pride in who we are.
Our work is essential to our democracy, as it is for our country and to Canadians as well. We defend the system's integrity and credibility, and we respect the democratic will of the Canadian people. This is a profoundly important role to play.
Each of us is part of something bigger. For me, that realization crystallized very early on in my career. As a newly minted lawyer, I was given an opportunity in 1995 to play a role in a dispute that we were having with Spain on our east coast fisheries. That dispute found its way in front of the International Court of Justice, and I was part of a small team that was asked to present our defence in that context. And I realized, as I was working on our presentation of Canada's case, that this really wasn't about me. It was about Canada. The consequences that we would have, as a result of our success or failure, would be felt by our country. It would relate to our waters and our relationship with an ally. The work I was doing really wasn't about me. It was about our country.
And that same feeling has followed me throughout my career as I was given the responsibility of being a deputy minister and leading an institution of public servants who impressed me daily with the quality of the work they did and their commitment and the depth of their expertise. It's followed me when I've had the opportunity to travel with prime ministers to areas near conflict zones where you see our people in uniform, who serve and sacrifice for the ideals that our country holds dear.
We're all part of something bigger. When a Canadian asks for help with their tax return, signs up for online programs and goes through [05:17 inaudible], the experience they have shapes their perception of the public service and the government. Public servants who work at a call centre, create web content or review applications identifying eligibility requirements for a program are part of something bigger. Those who work with the public are not the only ones involved. Everyone who works behind the scenes to support our institutions—I'm thinking of, for example, human resources, administration and information technology, who contribute to our success.
When public servants, at every level, deliver excellence and demonstrate integrity, and exercise sound stewardship of the taxpayer dollars, that builds trust and confidence. It's not just what we do, it's how we do it. And as we face an operating environment that's ever changing and increasingly complex, these conversations about how we do our work, how we embrace our core values, how we adapt to continue to deliver excellence in the future, are essential.
So, how should we proceed? Well, guided by shared purpose, with a strong understanding of who we are as an organization, and that's what our Code of Values and Ethics provides. A professional, nonpartisan public service is an essential part of our democracy. We provide the government with options and then put the government's decisions into practice in the service of Canada. Our advice is based on science, evidence, knowledge, and experience. We are honest and forthright about challenges and provide solid options to address them. Ultimately, it's up to ministers to make decisions on behalf of our country and, whatever our personal beliefs, we have a professional duty to support our democracy by serving our clients, the government, and Canadians to the best of our ability. We do this with courage, with candour, with transparency and openness, and with respect.
I talked about respect earlier, how it is a big part of reconciliation, learning and listening to Indigenous peoples. Respecting their knowledge, their stories, their identities, and their experiences. As we discussed yesterday afternoon, we also bring our values to life by making meaningful progress on the Call to Action on Anti-racism, Equity, and Inclusion, and by making our workplaces accessible to all, by promoting a healthy culture. Our ability to innovate and solve problems comes from teamwork, which happens when people feel valued and included.
We need to have candid conversations about mental health and safe work spaces, as well as seek out different points of view, reflect on them, and communicate the decisions made and their rationale. We also need to be agile and resilient in the face of change. The reality of our work and the world we live in is that change is constant. Whether this change is as global as a pandemic or as local as a change in priorities, we must accept it and empower ourselves to succeed. There are many things we can prepare for; we can analyze trends and predict different scenarios for a year or five years ahead.
We need to be comfortable with the unknown unknowns. There will always be surprises, and it's up to us to respond effectively. We've seen extraordinary examples of this, including our responses during the COVID pandemic and to the wildfires across the country. Manage risks, adapt to new circumstances, and make the most of opportunities to innovate.
Now, we know that there is a fixed election date in October of 2025, and as a professional and nonpartisan public service, we support democracy and carry out the business of government. For those of you who have joined the public service in recent years, you will not have had the experience of our role during an electoral period, and I strongly encourage leaders across our system to discuss that role during the election time. I encourage us all to embrace our role. The public service offers continuity for Canadians and for the duly elected government. It is the strength of our system.
Now, in all we do, we must strive for excellence, and achieving excellence is no easy feat. We are, after all, only human. Sometimes we can feel like we're hitting roadblocks. It can be hard if our advice doesn't make it to the final cut. But take this to heart. Our service matters, our work matters, at every level and in every part of the country. Ultimately, I hope you come to see yourselves as I see you, part of an essential whole, contributing to an organization that has great meaning and profound purpose.
An organization whose core principles have stood the test of time. An organization that will continue to evolve to meet the current and future needs of Canadians. This is why this conference is so important. This is why it's important to continue the dialogue after the conference. We want public servants to come away from this conference better equipped to meet the challenges of the future.
Now, as we look at what comes next, I think there's some key areas we can provide new direction that'll make a real difference. This afternoon's panel is going to be a discussion on guidelines for how we responsibly use artificial intelligence in our work. It's also been very clear over the course of the conversations we've had in the last year that guidance with respect to the use of social media would be welcome and important. Yesterday we heard of the work that TBS has initiated in this regard, and I'm grateful for that because I think it provides a really sound foundation. But it also requires further development and discussion, given the evolution of social media on a minute-by-minute basis. So, I've asked Deputy Clerk Fox to continue these efforts, working closely with Jackie Bogden, the Chief Human Resources Officer, to continue this dialogue and to refine the social media guidance by the spring of next year in a way that will reflect national and international best practices.
Similarly, we don't want to lose the accomplishments we've had to date on our conversations on values and ethics, and I've asked Taki Sarantakis, President of the School, to establish a permanent values and ethics visiting scholar, which will be operational by 2025. And it'll be named after my friend and mentor, Ian Shugart, who was an inspirational colleague and mentor, former Clerk of the Privy Council and Senator who loved this country. He epitomized what we aspire to as public servants: committed to excellence in serving the public and supporting democracy with integrity, openness and respect. Taki will provide some further details on this, but broadly speaking, the new role will be an annual rotating appointment with a scholar focusing on the development and implementation of values and ethics courses; research on ethics and governance; promoting the importance of ethical leadership; and ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion are fully integrated in our values of excellence, integrity, stewardship, respect for democracy and respect for people.
Lastly, I would ask that the deputy ministers continue the momentum we have gained, by focusing their efforts within their organizations on the following: updating the organizational code of conduct, preparing a departmental report on the disclosure of wrongdoing and misconduct, requiring employees to submit annual conflict of interest declarations and incorporating consequential accountability for progress in implementing the Call to Action.
We are, together, the public service. We are the public service at this moment in time in the history of our country, all of us. We have a responsibility in that regard to live up the values of our organization. We have a responsibility to our society to serve to the best of our ability. We have a responsibility to hold ourselves to high standards. It's a very high calling. It's a critical role that we play. I'm deeply proud of this institution, and I really look forward to continuing this conversation in this format and going forward. And I look forward to the panel we're going to have right now. And I want to thank you all for participating in today's event. Thank you. Miigwech. Merci.
[00:15:25 The Government of Canada wordmark appears and fades to black.]
