Forward Regulatory Plan: 2026 to 2028
This Forward Regulatory Plan provides information on regulatory initiatives that the Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC) aims to propose or finalize in the next 2 years through:
- pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I
- final publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II
The Forward Regulatory Plan may also include regulatory initiatives that are planned to come forward over a longer time frame. Comments or enquiries can be made using the contact information included with each regulatory initiative.
Regulatory initiatives
Review of the Public Service Official Languages Exclusion Approval Order and related regulations (associated with the stock review plan)
Enabling act
Description
The statutory instruments enable excluded persons to be subject to a non-imperative appointment based on merit except with respect to official language proficiency. They were created to provide an appropriate balance between ensuring that persons appointed meet the official language proficiency requirements of bilingual positions and fostering the access of unilingual Canadians to bilingual positions in the federal public service.
The review is examining the rules related to medical exclusions to maximize opportunities for individuals while ensuring official languages obligations are respected.
This regulatory initiative is associated with the PSC’s stock review plan.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
Not applicable.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
There are no expected impacts on Canadians, nor on businesses.
Consultations
In the coming months, the PSC will consult key stakeholders on the proposed regulatory direction.
Further information
Not applicable.
PSC contact information
Email: cfp.reglements-regulations.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca
Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan
2026
Review of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Casual Employment Regulations (associated with the stock review plan)
Enabling act
Description
The regulations operationalize section 50.2 of the Public Service Employment Act, which allows for casual employment at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for more than 90 days, in the circumstances prescribed by the PSC’s regulations.
The review is examining whether the regulations are achieving their objective and determining if they resulted in any unintended impacts. It is being conducted in conjunction with the results of the PSC’s Audit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Authority to Appoint Casual Workers for More Than 90 Days.
This regulatory initiative is associated with the PSC’s stock review plan.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
Not applicable.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
There are no expected impacts on Canadians, nor on businesses.
Consultations
A consultative strategy has not yet been developed.
Further information
Not applicable.
PSC contact information
Email: cfp.reglements-regulations.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca
Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan
2024
Public Service Diversity and Inclusion Exclusion Approval Order and related regulations
Enabling act
Description
The Public Service Employment Act provides the framework for the staffing system of the federal public service. It includes options to support fulfilling obligations under the Employment Equity Act such as limiting or expanding the area of selection to designated groups and establishing an employment equity organizational need. However, some of these measures are limited to persons of the 4 designated groups under the Employment Equity Act.
The objective of this regulatory initiative is to facilitate the appointment of persons from equity-seeking groups to and from within the public service, thereby strengthening the Government of Canada’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. This initiative will allow for appointment processes that can have eligibility restricted to such persons for reasons related to a special program to address a disadvantage.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
Not applicable.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
There are no expected impacts on Canadians, nor on businesses.
Consultations
The regulatory initiative is on hold subject to the work underway on the review of the Employment Equity Act.
Further information
Not applicable.
PSC contact information
Email: cfp.reglements-regulations.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca
Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan
2021
Regulatory Initiative Supporting Diversity and Inclusion in Student Employment
Enabling act
Description
The current student employment framework is governed by the Student Employment Programs Participants Exclusion Approval Order and the Student Employment Programs Participants Regulations, which provide the requirements for appointing students in student employment programs established by the Treasury Board.
The objective of this initiative is to facilitate the appointment of participants in a student employment program belonging to an equity-seeking group for reasons related to a special program to address a disadvantage. Given that student appointments may serve as a pipeline for future public service appointments, this regulatory initiative will help achieve longer-term public service diversity and inclusion objectives.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
Not applicable.
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
There are no expected impacts on Canadians, nor on businesses.
Consultations
The regulatory initiative is on hold subject to the work underway on the review of the Employment Equity Act.
Further information
Not applicable.
PSC contact information
Email: cfp.reglements-regulations.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca
Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan
2022
Consult Acts and regulations for:
- a list of acts and regulations administered by the PSC
- further information on the PSC’s implementation of government-wide regulatory management initiatives
Consult the following for links to the Cabinet Directive on Regulation and supporting policies and guidance, and for information on government-wide regulatory initiatives implemented by departments and agencies across the Government of Canada:
To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit:
- Consulting with Canadians
- Canada Gazette
- An online commenting feature allows stakeholders to submit their comments on proposed regulations directly in Part I of the Canada Gazette.