Permanent Residents in Public Service: Is That Possible?
Many Canadians have to go through challenging moments of discrimination and bias. And that is mainly based on ethnic or national origin, religion, disability, race, or colour. The amendment of the Public Service Employment Act became a reliable hope to overcome these barriers in public service staffing. Read on to know how permanent residents can work for the public service.
What It Means to Be a Permanent Resident Holder
If you permanently reside in Canada, you will have a PR card as a travel and identification document. It allows a permanent resident to prove their status. Moreover, it is one of those documents (alongside the permanent resident travel document) that makes the return of a permanent resident to Canada possible via a commercial carrier.
Tackling Systemic Barriers for Equity-Seeking Groups
Many Canadians face bias and barriers based on sex, religion, and other factors. The Canadian government amended the Public Service Employment Act to combat this issue. Its purpose is to address those barriers for groups who seek equity in public service staffing. With these amendments, departments can lay the foundation for encouraging inclusive recruitment activities and diminishing barriers.
The Treasury Board Secretariat has worked with bargaining agents, employee networks, and senior officials over the past few months. The goal was to obtain Diversity, Employment Equity, and Inclusion to analyze the experiences of equity-seeking group members in public service staffing. The Public Service Employment Act amendment reestablishes the need for an inclusive and diverse workforce, shattering the bias for permanent residents.
New Provisions for Permanent Residents
Several new provisions have been introduced with the amendment of the Public Service Employment Act. These include:
- Qualification Standards: All revised or new qualification standards for equity-seeking group members must be evaluated to address barriers and bias.
- Hiring Preferences: Canadian citizens and permanent residents will receive the same preference when making appointments via externally advertised hiring methods.
- Assessment Methods: The design and application of the assessment methods need a thorough evaluation of barriers and biases and the best practices for combating them.
These new provisions allow the Public Service Commission to audit for barriers and bias for equity-seeking group members. Moreover, the Commission and deputy heads can explicitly investigate cases of barriers and prejudice for equity-seeking group members.
Ways to Boost Diversity and Inclusion in the Public Service
The amendments of the Public Service Employment Act form the right set of activities and initiatives that can boost inclusion and diversity in the public service. That would form the basis of a sense of belonging for a permanent resident in Canada. The Canadian government also focuses on an ongoing effort to uproot discrimination, barriers, and bias so that all public servants can work to their full potential.
Progress and Facts to Know
- The Public Service Employment Act amendments obtained Royal Assent upon proposal in Budget 2021.
- An action plan emerged from the 2020 Speech from the Throne to boost leadership enhancement and better representation in the public service.
- The Canadian government’s release of the disaggregated datasets brought attention and views to the composition of public service employees. These employees self-identified as sub-groups of Employment Equity.
- The annual Public Service Employee Survey contains questions that provide detailed insights into the workplace and workforce.
- TBS’s coordination of vacant ADM positions throughout the public administration brought significant outcomes. It helped with the opportunity to identify diversity even at the most senior levels.
- As of June 2021, 34 institutions had started executing the Mentorship Plus program. This program encouraged the better progression of careers for equity-seeking groups.
A Look at the Different Kinds of Government Jobs in Canada
National Security and Defense
If permanent resident holders demand a government job in the defense and national security sector, they will have the following pathways:
- National Defence Civilian Jobs
- Canadian Armed Forces
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Canadian Security Intelligent Service
- Canada Border Services Agency
- Defense Research and Development Canada
- Public Safety Canada
- Communication Security Establishment Canada
Policy Leader
A permanent resident in Canada can apply for this position. However, Canadian citizens and veterans usually get preference upon meeting the job requirements.
Applying for Federal Jobs as a Permanent Resident in Canada
Here are the necessary steps to apply for federal jobs in Canada as a permanent resident:
- Create your account by going to The Public Service Jobs page.
- Next, enter the status numbers, such as Personal Record Identifier or Service Number.
- Contemplate your interests and look for your desired category or job.
- Click the “Apply” button to apply for a suitable government job. Meet all the requirements using your documents.
- After meeting all the criteria, submit your application. Remember to pay attention to the job’s closing date.
Conclusion
A permanent resident in Canada can look for a public service. With the best practices and initiatives, the Canadian government aims to address PR holders’ discrimination and bias and ensure a sense of belonging. However, it can be tricky to decide on the right government job. Allow the professionals of Citizenship Lawyer to assist you every step of the way.
