Question Period Note: Why are fishery officers asking to be reclassfied?

Why are fishery officers asking to be reclassfied?

Issues of classification are within the responsibility of the Deputy Minister. However, it is my understanding that many enforcement officers in the federal government, faced with the same risks and exercising the similar functions, are paid at a higher level than fishery officers.

Management at Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to resolving this issue and has been actively engaged in a classification review for the past year and a half.

I am proud of Canada’s fishery officers, who work tirelessly every day, from coast to coast to coast, protecting Canada’s fisheries.

• In 2014, several fishery officers lodged grievances asking to be reclassified from the GT04 to GT05 level. Most grievances are the first or second level of hearing.
• Other federal enforcement officers doing similar work, such as those at Environment and Climate Change Canada, are classified as GT05s.
• A year ago, DFO management started to review the classification of fishery officers. This project requires a review of all levels of operational supervisor and, due to the complexity of this, is taking longer than expected.
• Modified organizational structure and sharing of responsibilities between supervisors/managers and field officers were proposed to enhance fishery officers role and to allow for possible reclassification.
• A group of fishery officer managers have been identified and will work to develop the work descriptions of the positions in the new structure, which will then be analyzed and classified.
• Classification experts have the final say on the outcome of the level of classification.

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