Communiqué to employees: Political Activities of Employees

In 2015, elections are being held at the federal, provincial, territorial and municipal levels. If you are thinking about getting involved in a political activity, you need to know your legal rights and responsibilities.

The Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) recognizes your right to engage in a political activity as long as it does not impair, or is not perceived as impairing, your ability to perform your public service duties in a politically impartial manner.

A political activity is defined by the PSEA as:

• any activity in support of, within, or in opposition to a political party;
• any activity in support of, or in opposition to, a candidate before or during an election period; or
• seeking nomination as a candidate or being a candidate in an election before or during the election period.

Activities that do not fall under the definition of a political activity in the PSEA should be considered in light of the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector and your organization's code of conduct.

Seeking nomination and being a candidate

Each time you wish to be a candidate in an election (or seek nomination to be a candidate in an election), you must request and obtain permission and, if applicable, a leave of absence without pay (LWOP) from the Public Service Commission (PSC). You must request and obtain permission before you make public your intention to be a candidate or undertake candidacy-related activities.

The PSC will grant permission (and LWOP if applicable) if it is satisfied that being a candidate or seeking nomination as a candidate will not impair, or be perceived as impairing, your ability to perform your public service duties in a politically impartial manner.

For more information and the forms that need to be completed, please consult the PSC's Candidacy Request Web page. The Candidacy Process video also explains the process in a quick two-minute format.

Non-candidacy political activities

You do not need permission from the PSC to engage in activities to support or oppose a candidate or political party. However, if you are considering engaging in political activities that are not related to candidacy, the PSC has developed a Guidance Document for Participating in Non-Candidacy Political Activities and a Political Activities Self-Assessment Tool to guide you in making informed decisions.

Improper political activity

Anyone may bring forward to the PSC an allegation of improper political activity conducted by a public service employee. If an investigation establishes that the allegation is founded, the PSC can take any corrective action it considers appropriate.

Where to get advice

If you need more information, you may wish to discuss your specific circumstances with your manager, the Designated Political Activities Representative in your organization, or visit the PSC's Political Activities Web site.

Your co-operation in essential in maintaining the political impartiality of the federal public service and maintaining public confidence in its integrity and professionalism.