Message on next steps for departmental work on values and ethics (January 2024)

Colleagues,

On December 20, 2023, I received the milestone report of the Deputy Ministers’ Task Team on Values and Ethics that outlined the results of their engagement sessions within and outside the public service last fall.

I want to thank the Task Team members once again for their tremendous work, which has resulted in invaluable insights and generated critical momentum for the next phase of this vital conversation.

As you know, on January 27, 2024, Christiane Fox, a member of the Task Team, will be joining the Privy Council Office as Deputy Clerk and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet. I have asked her to take a leadership role going forward in facilitating the dialogue on values and ethics in the public service.

Continuing engagement on public service values and ethics is a priority for me. My expectation is that you, as deputies, will play a pivotal role in continuing to broaden this conversation within each of your organizations. As senior executives, we must lead by example. Specifically, I will be looking to you to:

• Develop department-specific values and ethics training plans, down to the divisional level, to ensure all public servants in your organizations have a deep understanding of public service values and ethics and their integration into their everyday work;
• Review and, if necessary, update your organizational codes of conduct;
• Foster a conversation at all levels within your organization on personal accountability to uphold our public service values and ethics; and
• Report back to the Deputy Clerk and myself by June 2024 with a written assessment of the actions undertaken in your department. We will then review your assessments and updates.

I have also asked the Canada School of Public Service to organize a government-wide symposium this fall to draw out best practices from both within and outside the public service to continue the dialogue on values and ethics.

I look forward to working with you in advancing our efforts on values and ethics as a cornerstone of the public service.

Sincerely,

John Hannaford (he/him)
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet