Question Period Note: CORONER’S REPORT ON DEATH OF CTA EMPLOYEE AND MENTAL HEALTH

The Quebec Coroner’s Office issued a report in October 2019 relating to the death in 2017 of a former public servant, Linda Deschâtelets. The report made two recommendations for the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS):
1. that each federal institution apply the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace; and
2. that TBS work with unions to ensure employees’ pay-related issues are quickly resolved to improve workplace wellbeing and eliminate psychological stress.
TBS is reviewing the coroner's recommendations.

• Our hearts go out to the friends and family of Madame Deschâtelets, and all other public servants who are struggling with mental health issues.
• The government is reviewing the coroner’s report and will provide a response.
• We are aware of ongoing significant efforts in the federal government to make mental health a priority in the workforce. Clearly there is more to be done.
• We are seized with the importance of our work to ensure a healthy public service, which includes affording all our employees personalized attention to resolve their pay files, whether related to the current pay system challenges or not.

In January 2013, the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Canadian Standards Association and the Bureau de normalisation du Québec launched the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard)—the first of its kind in the world.
The standard itself is voluntary, intended as a framework that provides tools, not rules, to help organizations in establishing a psychological health and safety management system contextualized to their workplace.
In March 2015, the former President of the Treasury Board and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) reached an agreement to establish a Joint Task Force to address mental health in the federal public service.
Between December 2015 and January 2018, the Joint Task Force produced three reports, which include recommendations and guidance for federal organizations on culture change, leadership and engagement, education, training and workplace practices, communication and promotion, and measurement and accountability.
The third report is a roadmap to establish and maintain a Psychological Health and Safety Management System (PHSMS) in the federal public service, in alignment with the standard. The Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace (CoE) provides advice, guidance and support to federal organizations in their efforts to implement a PHSMS aligned with the standard.
The CoE is a collaborative initiative between departmental officials and bargaining agents, and was a key recommendation from the Joint Task Force and employee consultations. Two co-chairs oversee the work of the CoE: one representing the Employer, the other Bargaining Agents.
Established in 2017, the CoE was initially supported through TBS internal reallocations; Budget 2018 confirmed funding for Wellness, Inclusion and Diversity ($71.9 million over six years and $3.6 million ongoing), the envelope through which the CoE is now funded.

KEY FACTS • Budget 2018 committed $71.9 million over six years and $3.6 million ongoing for Wellness, Inclusion and Diversity. This includes funding for the Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace.