Canadian Public Service Job Applications Impacted by Technical Glitch
Thousands of veterans and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members may have faced barriers in applying for public service jobs due to a technical issue spanning over three years, according to officials from the Public Service Commission of Canada.
The problem, which began in November 2020 and persisted until January 2024, affected the identification and preference given to veterans in hiring for federal public service roles. Additionally, some military personnel and veterans were unable to view and apply for positions open to public servants.
Commission president Marie-Chantal Girard attributed the issue to a “technical issue” in the transfer of data between the Department of National Defence (DND) and the commission, resulting in the improper identification of eligible veterans and CAF members.
While the technical staff was aware of the issue, its full impact was only realized recently. Senior management became aware of the issue in late December and January.
Efforts to mitigate the problem include reaching out to over 6,000 individuals who may have been affected, though the final tally is expected to be lower. Michael Morin, acting vice-president at the commission, estimated that over 3,000 CAF members and approximately 700 veterans may have been unable to view internal job opportunities.
The commission plans to conduct an audit to assess whether any veterans were disadvantaged in job offers or prioritization due to the glitch. Girard emphasized the commission’s commitment to exploring various options to assist affected veterans in securing public service employment.
Despite efforts to address the issue promptly, gathering comprehensive information is expected to take several months.
