An acting merit commissioner will ensure B.C.  public service employees experience no service interruptions while the role transitions to the Public Service Agency (PSA).

As of Tuesday, March 10,  the previous commissioner’s term has concluded as scheduled. Tracy Campbell, a retired public servant, who has served as an assistant deputy minister and executive financial officer, will serve as acting commissioner until the transfer of duties to the Public Service Agency is complete. As part of her role, Campbell will oversee the finalization and publication of the annual report in progress.

When the transfer is complete, the Public Service Agency will provide staffing reviews, quality assurance and annual public reporting for the B.C. public service. The avenue for public service employees with questions or concerns about hiring processes will continue to be through their respective ministry, as it was previously. Applicants and employees of the B.C. public service will continue to have the same rights, entitlements and options for recourse they have now.

The Public Service Agency is a non-partisan, professional organization. Similar to the Office of the Merit Commissioner, the Public Service Agency does not make hiring decisions about employees in individual ministries. This allows the agency to provide the same level of arms-length oversight for staffing processes.

The reintegration of these functions into the Public Service Agency is projected to reduce costs, improve access to services for government workers and align B.C. with the practices of all provinces in Canada.