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Overview

 

   PSOA OVERVIEW

 

   PSOA FAQ

 

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PUBLIC SERVICE OF ONTARIO ACT

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

 

The Public Service of Ontario Act (PSOA) replaces the Public Service Act (PSA) and affects all public servants in ministries, ministers’ offices and public bodies, including appointees. The PSOA provides the legislative framework to foster and support the key OPS values of professionalism, integrity, accountability and excellence.

     

    The PSOA does two key things:
    • sets out the ethical framework for all public servants
    • sets out the human resource management framework for public servants in ministries and Commission public bodies

     

    The term public servant includes
    • employees of ministries
    • appointees and employees of public bodies
    • ministers’ staff

     

    The ethical framework addresses:
    • disclosure of wrongdoing
    • conflict of interest
    • political activity
    • Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance

     

    The human resource management framework addresses:
    • employment categories
    • human resource management authorities and responsibilities

 

The Conflict of Interest Commissioner has certain responsibilities in respect only conflict of interest and political activity for ministries and public bodies. For more information on other parts of the PSOA, please refer to the MGS site.

 

Key Components

What It Means For You
Conflict of Interest

 

The PSOA clarifies existing rules to ensure that public servants’ private interests are not in conflict with their public service responsibilities.
  • Rules for ministries remain the same.
  • NEW Rules apply to all current and former public servants in both ministries and public bodies.
  • Conflict of Interest rules also apply to public servants in ministers’ offices.
  • NEW Public bodies can develop their own rules for approval by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.
Political Activity Rights

 

The PSOA clarifies existing rules to balance neutrality of the public service with individuals’ ability to engage in political activity.
  • The rules have not changed but their application has.
  • The rules for ministries remain the same.
  • NEW Basic rules now apply to all employees and appointees of public bodies.
  • NEW Modified rules apply to ministers’ staff.
  • Additional rules apply to the “specially restricted” class.