Acts of Founded Wrongdoing
On 24 November 2016, the departmental Internal Disclosure Office (IDO) received a disclosure of wrongdoing pursuant to the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (PSDPA) pertaining to alleged wrongdoings associated with hiring irregularities when staffing new Public Service (PS) positions. Specifically, the following allegation was made:• Gross mismanagement and a serious breach of the DND/CAF Code of Values and Ethics – It was alleged that serving or recently retired senior Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) officers working at the unit were hired to fill the majority of newly created PS positions. It was noted that several of these officers were involved in the unit’s reorganization and the creation of the new PS positions. The subsequent investigation conducted by the Directorate of Special Examinations and Inquiries (DSEI) concluded that:• Several senior CAF officers who were appointed into indeterminate positions breached Defence Administrative Order and Directive (DAOD) 7021-2 by failing to file a Confidential Report declaring their post-employment.• Several senior CAF officers breached DAOD 7021-1 by placing themselves in a personal conflict of interest (COI) when they participated in the initial reorganization of the unit and subsequently applied for the newly created PS positions. In addition, these individuals placed the unit in an organizational COI.• Several senior CAF officers and DND employees involved in the staffing processes breached DAOD 7021-1 by placing themselves in a personal COI when they participated in the Selection and Appointment Boards given the existing subordinate/superior reporting relationships between members of the boards and the applicants.• Several senior CAF officers and DND employees breached the DND/CAF Code of Values and Ethics with their conduct during the staffing processes of the newly created positions by failing to respect the dignity of all persons (Ethical Principal 1) and by failing to serve Canada before self (Ethical Principal 2).• Several senior DND employees breached the PS Code of Values and Ethics with their conduct during the staffing processes of the newly created positions by failing to show integrity (Ethical Behaviour 3).• Several senior CAF officers and DND employees breached the PS Staffing Values of transparency, fairness, and access by the manner in which the staffing processes were conducted.
The investigation report contained the following recommendations:
• The Level 1 Organization (L1) consider re-examining the appointments made under the competition processes that were investigated.
• The L1 ensure compliance with DAOD 7021-1, Conflict of Interest and DAOD 7021-2, Post-Employment, as applicable.
• The L1 consider taking steps to restore workplace relations.
The DND Senior Officer for Internal Disclosure (SOID) has informed management of the findings of the DSEI investigation. DND has committed to undertaking the following corrective action:
• Investigate the appointments and processes and recommend any corrective action deemed appropriate.
• Move towards agile monitoring of the staffing regime across the Department.
• Review the content of the “Staffing Sub-delegation Training for Managers” training course and enhance the sections on Values and Ethics and COI.
• Include in the Second Career Assistance Network (SCAN) and Executive SCAN seminars reinforcement of DAOD 7021-1, Conflict of Interest.
• Take steps to restore workplace relations based on findings of subsequent investigations.
• Confirm that the current procedures ensure compliance with DAOD 7021-2, Post-Employment.
No further action is required.