Investigation Summary

Section 69 – Founded – Fraud – False statements concerning credentials, work experience and level of education

Authority: This investigation was conducted under section 69 of the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) S.C. 2003, c. 22, par. 12 and 13.

Issue: The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether a public servant committed fraud in several appointment processes. More specifically, the aim of the investigation was to determine whether the public servant had committed fraud by making false statements about her work experience and credentials, with the goal of deceiving in these appointment processes.

Conclusions: The Public Service Commission concluded that the public servant committed fraud pursuant to section 69 of the PSEA in the appointment processes that were investigated. On the balance of probabilities, the public servant submitted false statements regarding her credentials in each of the employment applications, and concerning her work experience in certain processes, with the aim of deceiving.

Facts: The public servant had been working at a department for several years, initially appointed to a project officer position. Since then, the public servant has applied for several positions at higher levels within the department.

While preparing for an interview with the public servant in one appointment process, the manager delegated to the appointment process and a member of the assessment board reviewed the employment application of the public servant, including her résumé, and raised several concerns about the public servant’s work experience, use of professional designations and the indication of a Master’s in Project Management in her employment applications. The delegated manager also brought up the fact that the public servant was using a designation reserved for a profession on her business cards and in the signature block of her work email. Therefore, the delegated manager conducted research with relevant professional associations, and the Department submitted the file to the Public Service Commission for investigation.

During the investigation, the investigator reviewed the public servant’s employment applications, interviewed several witnesses about her work experience, consulted professional associations and related legislation, as well as the postsecondary institution where the public servant said she completed her Master’s degree.

The public servant’s testimony was shown to be highly contradictory as regards to her work experience, use of professional designations and the indication of a Master’s degree pending completion of the thesis.

In light of the documentary and testimonial evidence, the investigator did not accept the public servant’s version of the facts and concluded that her explanations regarding her work experience, use of professional designations and a Master’s degree pending completion of the thesis were not credible.

The investigator concluded that the public servant had acted dishonestly and had committed fraud pursuant to section 69 of the PSEA by using professional designations that the public servant did not hold and providing false information about her work experience in her employment applications. The investigator determined that the appointment processes could have been compromised when the public servant provided false information about her qualifications, as this could have increased her chances of being appointed.

Corrective action: The Commission ordered that:

• The public servant’s appointment be revoked and that following revocation, the public servant no longer be employed in the federal public service;
• For a period of three years from the signing of the Record of Decision, the public servant obtain the written approval of the Commission before accepting any position or work within the federal public service. Should the public servant accept an appointment within the federal public service without having first obtained such approval, the appointment will be revoked;
• For a period of three years from the signing of the Record of Decision, should the public servant obtain work through casual employment or student programs within the federal public service without first notifying the Commission, a letter will be sent by the Investigations Branch of the Public Service Commission to the deputy head of the organization advising of the fraud committed by the public servant, along with a copy of the Investigation Report and Record of Decision;
• A summary of the investigation, specifically concerning the use of professional designations, must be sent to three professional organizations.

Investigation File No.: 14-15-01