FAQs: Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector

The Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector came into force on April 2, 2012. All all federal public servants are required to adhere to the code as a condition of employment.

Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector

  • What is the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector?

    The Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector outlines the values and expected behaviours that guide federal public servants in all activities related to their professional duties. By committing to these values and adhering to the expected behaviours, public servants strengthen the ethical culture of the public sector and contribute to public confidence in all public institutions. Adherence to the code is a condition of employment.

    The 2012 code was created pursuant to subsection 5(1) of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, which requires that the Treasury Board establish a code of conduct applicable to the entire federal public sector. It replaced the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service, which dated back to 2003 and applied only to the core public administration.Footnote 1

    Given the broader application called for under the act, the 2003 code was revisited to ensure that the values and guidelines in it would be applicable to the entire public sector.

    The 2012 code is an evolution of its predecessor, but its foundation and core principles remain the same. The code lists 5 values:

    • respect for democracy
    • respect for people
    • integrity
    • stewardship
    • excellence

    The Treasury Board Directive on Conflict of Interest complements the code. The directive applies only to the core public administration and came into effect on April 1, 2020, replacing Appendix B of the 2012 Policy on Conflict of Interest and Post‑Employment.

  • When did the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector come into force?

    The code was tabled in Parliament on December 21, 2011, and came into force on April 2, 2012. As of that date, all federal public servants have been required to adhere to the code as a condition of employment.

  • Which organizations are subject to the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector?

    All organizations in the "public sector" as defined in the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act are subject to the code.

    This includes parent Crown corporations, separate agencies and organizations of the core public administration, specifically:

    • the departments named in Schedule I to the Financial Administration Act and the other portions of the federal public administration named in Schedules I.1 to V to that act
    • the Crown corporations and the other public bodies set out in Schedule I of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act

    “Public sector” does not include the Canadian Forces, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service or the Communications Security Establishment. These organizations are not subject to the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector. They each have their own legislated infrastructure, policies and procedures to promote an ethical workplace and to uphold the public trust.

  • What covers the organizations that are not subject to the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector?

    Each of the excluded organizations (Canadian Forces, Canadian Security Intelligence Service and Communications Security Establishment Canada) has its own legislated mandate, infrastructure, policies and procedures in place to promote an ethical workplace and to uphold the public trust.

    Each of these organizations also has a disclosure mechanism that is similar to the one in the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.

  • Is the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector the only code of conduct for federal public servants?

    No. The Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector is the overarching code, but the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act requires that each organization also have its own code of conduct that is consistent with values and ethics code.

    The organizational codes outline expected behaviours specific to each organization’s mandate and work environment. For example, the codes of organizations that have employees who are in direct contact with the public (mail carriers, border services officers, employment counsellors, and so on) may include details on the expected behaviours of these employees.

    Organizational codes of conduct must not contradict or lower the minimum standard of behaviour set out in the values and ethics code.

  • Which code is a condition of employment for federal public servants?

    Adherence to both the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector and their organization’s code of conduct is a condition of employment for all federal public servants.

    In organizations in the core public administration, adherence to the Directive on Conflict of Interest is also a condition of employment. This directive contains detailed requirements on how public servants are to deal with conflicts of interest (for example, what types of conflict of interest they might encounter, how to treat assets, gifts and solicitations), conflicts of duties, and post-employment situations (for example, reporting and limitation periods).

  • Does the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector apply to contractors?

    No. Contractors are not considered employees, so they are not subject to the code.

    Contractors must, however, comply with the contracting policies of both the Treasury Board and Public Services and Procurement Canada, which address conflicts of interest for contractors and consultants.

  • Does the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector apply to term and casual employees?

    Yes. The code applies to term and casual employees in the federal public sector.

  • What happens if someone breaches the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector or the Directive on Conflict of Interest?

    Adherence to the code is a condition of employment for all federal public servants, regardless of their level or position. A breach of the values or expected behaviours described in the code may therefore result in disciplinary measures, up to and including termination of employment.

    Adherence to the Directive on Conflict of Interest is also a condition of employment in organizations in the core public administration. A breach of the directive may therefore result in disciplinary measures, up to and including termination of employment.

Directive on Conflict of Interest

  • What is the Directive on Conflict of Interest?

    The Directive on Conflict of Interest is a Treasury Board directive that falls under the Policy on People Management. The directive outlines the responsibilities of designated senior officials for managing and resolving conflict of interest and conflict of duties situations in their organizations. It also outlines the responsibilities of public servants for preventing, reporting and resolving these situations. The directive complements the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector.

    The directive provides direction and measures to help organizations and public servants deal effectively with real, apparent and potential conflict of interest and conflict of duties situations that may arise during or after employment in the public service.

  • Why is the Directive on Conflict of Interest important?

    This directive is important because preventing, managing and resolving conflict of interest and conflict of duties situations in favour of the public interest is one of the principal means of maintaining public trust and confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the public service.

  • When did the Directive on Conflict of Interest come into force?

    The Directive on Conflict of Interest came into force on April 1, 2020, replacing Appendix B of the 2012 Policy on Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment.

  • Which organizations are subject to the Directive on Conflict of Interest?

    Organizations in the core public administration are subject to the Directive on Conflict of Interest.

    Public sector organizations outside of the core public administration have their own conflict of interest and conflict of duties provisions.

Organizational codes of conduct

  • What are organizational codes of conduct?

    Organizational codes of conduct outline the values and expected behaviours of public servants in an organization. The Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act requires that each chief executive establish a code of conduct for employees in their organization.

  • Does the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) need to approve organizational codes of conduct?

    No. TBS does not have to approve organizational codes of conduct. However, since these codes of conduct have to be consistent with the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector, TBS provides information and tools to help organizations create codes of conduct that are consistent with the values and ethics code.

  • Should organizations include conflict of interest requirements in their organizational code of conduct?

    Organizations have 2 options:

    • They can include conflict of interest requirements in their organizational code of conduct
      or
    • They can place them in a separate policy instrument

    Under the Policy on People Management and the Directive on Conflict of Interest, organizations in the core public administration must identify, manage and resolve the operational risks associated with conflicts of interest and conflicts of duties in relation to their organization’s specific mandate. They are free to choose how they do this.

    Organizations outside the core public administration can use the policy and the directive as a guide for drafting their internal conflict of interest measures.

  • If public servants have concerns over values and ethics in their day-to-day work, what should they do?

    They can discuss their concerns with any of the following:

    For more specific information and advice in cases of suspected wrongdoing, public servants may consult their organization’s senior officer for disclosure of wrongdoing (list accessible on the Government of Canada network only) or the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner.

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