A recent labour board ruling has found that the Treasury Board acted in bad faith by delaying negotiations with the Public Service Alliance of Canada in regards to the new dental care plan. This has led to accusations that the progress of this plan has been stalled intentionally. However, the Federal Government have now announced that it is appealing the ruling.
The Federal Government has announced that it is appealing a recent labour board ruling that found the Treasury Board acted in bad faith due to recent indiscretions with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).
The finding was that the Treasury Board acted in bad faith by delaying negotiations regarding a new dental care plan with PSAC [1]. This allegation has resulted in debate and discussion regarding the situation.
The Ruling
In June 2022, PSAC filed a complaint against the Treasury Board [1]. This complaint came almost six months after the union approached the government to begin negotiations about the dental plan.
At the end of March, the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board made a ruling that found that the Treasury Board had violated a section of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act [1].
The ruling stated that the Treasury Board had violated the aforementioned act by not agreeing to start negotiations for the renewal of the national dental plan while it pursued a benchmarking study on the topic at the time [1].
The implication is that the Treasury Board didn’t act fairly through their actions. However, this version of events is being challenged by the federal government.
Government’s appeal
The government have lodged an appeal against the ruling with the Federal Court of Appeal [1]. In their application, the government has stated that the Treasury Board invited PSAC to partake in the dental plan study on multiple occasions last May.
The Treasury Board has since said that the government has completed the benchmarking study – which is a contentious topic that has caused some problems.
Moreover, they state that the union declined this and instead filed a complaint that the government was failing to bargain in good faith with them [1]. Clearly, the government have a different set of events.
Continuing, the application of the government stated that the labour board rendered an “unreasonable decision” through its finding that “there was a breach of the duty to bargain in good faith” [1]. Moreover, the government also argued that it was unreasonable for the labour board to believe it was their jurisdiction to hear such a complaint.
PSAC’s response
PSAC have since said that its goal from the beginning was to get the Treasury Board to negotiate an update to the dental plan. Given that it represents almost 200,000 federal public service workers, this is understandable. Furthermore, they claim that the government has intentionally stalled this process [1].
PSAC has said that they contacted the government in an effort to arrange talks on the subject, but has not heard back [1]. The two sides seem to be at an impasse.
Impact on the dental care plan
Martin Potvin is the spokesperson for the Treasury Board. He commented on the situation, stating that the board “are committed to working towards a modernized Public Service Dental Care Plan that is science and evidence-based and supports employee wellness in a manner that is fair for employees and for all Canadians [1].
It does appear to have slowed down the progress of the dental plan. David Orfald of the labour board suggested that “because the parties have not been able to commence negotiations, they have not been able to engage in the rational dialogue they need to complete the renewal of the plan” [1].
What will happen next?
By lodging their appeal, the government is looking for an order to be made that sets aside the labour board’s original finding. They firmly believe that the Treasury Board did not act in bad faith [1].
PSAC remain adamant in their belief that the Treasury Board acted in bad faith. However, we will need to wait for the result of the appeal before any conclusions can be drawn.
There is currently no timeframe on when the Federal Court of Appeal will hear this case. Therefore, discussions and disagreements may be commonplace for some time.
Thinking Points
[1] The national dental care plan is proving to be a topic that is attracting substantial conversation. While we wait for the specific details of the plan to be worked out, it is important to not neglect your oral health in the meantime! Remember to attend dental appointments regularly as this will ensure your oral health is strong! Check-ups allow a dentist to have a thorough look at your oral health and provide treatment options if necessary. We recommend that you book an appointment now!
[2] One of the potential causes of a lack of access to dental care concerns cost. Therefore, it is useful to know that here at our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental, our fees are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide, this ensures that our prices are reliable, competitive and transparent. We would love to see you at our Calgary dental clinic soon – find out more about us by visiting our website at the following link https://savannadentalclinic.ca!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its patients with a wide range of dental treatment options and advice aimed at improving their oral health.
It is crucial to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is important.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.
References
[1] Morrison, C. (2023). Federal government appealing labour board ruling on dental plan negotiations between PSAC, Treasury Board. Available: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/feds-appealing-labour-board-ruling-on-dental-plan-negotiation-delays. Last accessed: 12th May 2023.
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