National Work Force Adjustment (WFA) Committee Meeting Record of Discussion

SUMMARY OF THE MARCH 10, 2025, REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL WORKFORCE ADJUSTMENT (WFA) COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE MEETING WITH THE UNION OF TAXATION EMPLOYEES (UTE) AND THE CANADA REVENUE AGENCY (CRA).

1. Opening Remarks

Caroline Jacques, Director General from SBID, welcomed everyone and reminded that the last revision of the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the CRA and UTE - National WFA Committee took place in 2015, and that the latest version was signed in 2019. Given the new organizational and financial realities across the Agency, the HRB welcomed this opportunity to revisit the WFA Committee framework. She emphasised that while the committee’s Terms of Reference may evolve over time, any changes and issues will have to be discussed at the national WFA committee.

2. Introduction and mandate

For the mandate, management expressed their expectation for members of the national WFA committee to provide direction and advice to the regional and branch WFA committees. They also shared their intent to propose a framework at the regional and local WFA levels. For the terminology, the UTE suggested replacing the word branch with local committees. Management expressed their expectation for members of the national WFA committee to provide direction and advice to the regional and branch WFA committees. Caroline shared management’s intent to propose a framework at the regional and local levels. She also acknowledged that the decentralized model in CRA creates some challenges at the local level. The UTE insisted that the local committees should be included for a more transparent communication.

The UTE shared their concerns around the WFA and restructuration challenges, specifically within the Western Region. Management also expressed that the Committee’s primary focus is to ensure that meaningful consultation takes place at the national level, through meetings, to discuss human resources issues related to the management of WFA situations, and to explore the most efficient available workforce plan options.

Management outlined that the national WFA committee is a consultative forum rather than a decision-making forum. In addition, the committee members will: consult on approaches to facilitate the placement of employees, receive, periodically, a list of all affected, surplus, and laid-off employees; which will include their status; and provide direction and advice to the regional and branch WFA Committees.

Under the mandate, UTE asked to include local committees in the following blurb: ‘Receive, periodically, a list of all affected, surplus, and laid-off employees; which will include their status; and, periodically reporting, including their status. Provide direction and advice to the regional, branch and WFA committees. For monitoring and amendments, the Committee’s co-chairs may meet to assess the effectiveness of the Terms of Reference or may request their review and/or their amendment.

3. Meetings and committee composition

For meetings, UTE suggested meeting on a quarterly basis rather than biannually. Both parties agreed that ad-hoc meetings should take place if the need arises and that specific dates should be agreed upon. On timing, the UTE proposed to include a notification feature in Microsoft teams or to create a shared folder intended for the national WFA committee. Management committed to exploring options on how to increase the committee’s communication.

Management suggested a new section on alternates, stating that each committee member should select an alternate member to serve as their replacement when unable to attend a meeting. Management added that the alternate’s name should be communicated as early as possible and approved by both co-chairs. For the secretariat function, management presented the secretarial services that will be provided jointly by the Union-Management Relations and the Human Resources Impact Analysis teams.

4. Confidentiality and leave/travel time

Management suggested a piece on confidentiality, stating that all members of the Committee must commit to respecting the confidentiality of information shared under embargo during the Committee meetings. The UTE shared their concern on the confidentiality piece and insisted that it should not prevent them from sharing the embargoed information with national executives.

Management confirmed that sharing the information upward should happen but advised that sharing information to the regional, local or branch level is prohibited when confidential. On confidentiality, management suggested removing the word embargo and keeping confidential since they share the same meaning and the Union agreed.

For leave and travel time for in-person meetings, participants will be granted leave with pay for travel time and attendance at these meetings. Travel costs are the responsibility of each committee member’s home organization. 

5. Language

The meetings will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Official Languages Act. All members will be encouraged to communicate in the official language of their choice. The co-chairs shall ensure that all members of the Committee are provided with a sufficient explanation of the questions asked or issues raised, should they not have an adequate comprehension of the language used to ask the question or raise the issue. 

6. Closing Remarks

or next steps, the secretariat will amend the ToR accordingly and will share with the committee for review and signature. All committee members agreed to discuss the regional and local elements as part of the WFA national approach at the next meeting. Both parties wish to leverage what they learned in the last WFA situations and identify how they can better assist at those levels. They also wish to engage in meaningful consultations on WFA elements that may require review and update. The UTE shared concerns from members in the WFA local committees, especially those located in the Western and Quebec regions. Both parties agree to reconvene in 2 to 3 weeks - pending availabilities on both sides.

Summary of commitments:

1. Share the perspectives and experience of last WFA announcements with the objective to improve the national approach including the regional and local components.
2. Explore virtual options to have timely discussions on WFA matters.
3. Meeting on a quarterly basis and to have an increased flexibility to hold frequent ad-hoc meetings during periods of WFA.