OTTAWA, Ontario, June 17, 2016 — This past February, the Government of Canada introduced Phoenix, a system approved by the previous government, to replace a 40-year-old pay system.

Since the implementation of Phoenix, I have received messages from many public servants and members of Parliament expressing concerns with accurate and timely delivery of pay. The transition to Phoenix has resulted in a growing backlog of unprocessed pay requests, which is creating a difficult situation for those affected.

To deal with this problem, I have instructed the Department to immediately hire 100 employees to work in a temporary pay unit.

This unit will be located in Gatineau, Quebec, in order to take advantage of the availability of individuals in the area with compensation expertise. The unit will work closely with departments to ensure they are using the system effectively.

This temporary unit will be operational this month and remain in place until the backlog issues are addressed. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

As an additional measure, I have asked the Auditor General of Canada to examine the planning for, and implementation of, Phoenix.

We will continue to work closely with all departments, agencies and unions to ensure employees are paid promptly and accurately for their work. Our employees deserve no less.