The sacking of a Canadian Federal Public Servant who secretly hired her daughter to a position that had not been publically advertised is said to be just one of many instances of nepotism plaguing the bureaucracy.
The Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board upheld the dismissal of Christine Petit, an $C87,000-a-year ($A93,200) manager, who was fired in 2017 when supervisors discovered she successfully recommended her daughter for a job.
The Board heard that in Ms Petit’s termination letter, Assistant Deputy Employment Minister, Élise Boisjoly (pictured) wrote: “You acted deliberately when you recommended hiring your daughter.”
“It was also confirmed you made a false statement about your relationship to her. It was unacceptable behaviour that cannot be tolerated or approved,” Ms Boisjoly said.
“It was your duty to set an example for your employees and demonstrate impeccable behaviour,” she said.
However, a 2018 questionnaire among 101,892 Federal employees found a majority, 54 per cent, believed practices such as Ms Petit’s was rife in the Public Service with hiring “depending on who you know”.
Only 16 per cent agreed with the statement: “People hired in my work unit can do the job.”
A separate 2019 annual report on the Department of Public Works found complaints of “favouritism, unfairness and lack of transparency in staffing”.
The Employment Board has repeatedly upheld the firing of executives cited for nepotism.
In 2015 a Canadian Food Inspection Agency biochemist was cited for hiring his brother-in-law and awarding $C29,217 ($A31,300) in contracts to companies operated by family members.
In 2013, a Director at the Immigration and Refugee Board was fired after trying to find Federal jobs for her son and his cleaning woman.
“Conflict of interest is a very serious offence,” the Employment Board wrote in that case.
“Public Servants must act at all times in a manner that will withstand the closest scrutiny,” it said.
Ottawa, 20 May 2021
