Briefing Materials Shed Light on Health Canada's Ombuds Program

The federal agency that oversees Canada's national health policy has released the briefing package for its new Deputy Minister. (Greg Orencsak who was appointed in August 2024.) The binder presents an overview of Health Canada organization and work, including its Center for Ombuds and Resolution. COR's Ombuds and Executive Director is Sylvie Richard, and her Associate Ombuds are Sarah Curry and Thierry Casademont. The summary explains COR's key functions, legislative and regulatory context, and budget. 

Here is the relevant section of the briefing binder:

11. Center for Ombuds and Resolution (COR)

COR organizational structure

Ombuds and Executive Director

Sylvie Richard, Ph.D.

Informal Conflict Management Director and Associate Ombuds

Sarah Curry

Associate Ombuds

Thierry Casademont

COR key functions

Ombuds

• Provides a safe and confidential space where employees at all levels can raise and discuss any workplace issue without fear of reprisal or judgment.
• Identifies systemic issues and trends and prepare reports.

Informal conflict management services

• Provides support to prevent, manage, and resolve workplace conflicts and develop a conflict competent workforce and organization.
• COR provides services to Health Canada (HC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) .

Ombuds

The ombuds reports directly to the:

• Deputy and associate deputy ministers for HC;
• President and executive vice-president for the PHAC.

The ombuds:

• Creates a safe space where employees can raise and discuss workplace issues without fear of reprisal or judgment and find options, resources, and recourse to address their situation;
• Raises awareness about systemic issues and trends to those with the power to effect change;
• Shares trends and promote promising practices when engaging employees, networks, champions, and unions.

COR supports the DMs with the clerks’ priorities:

• Provides an ombuds-like function to provide all employees with a trusted, safe space to discuss harassment without fear of reprisal and to help navigate existing systems;
• Calls to action on anti-racism, equity, and inclusion call to action on anti-racism, equity, and inclusion.
• By ensuring COR is trained and equipped to create safe spaces for employees facing racism or experiencing discrimination.
• By providing concrete tools for employees to respond to micro-aggressions in the workplace.
• The ombuds is an active member of the council of organizational ombuds of the federal public service.
• The ombuds is not responsible to receive complaints on behalf of HC or PHAC.

Informal conflict management services (ICMS)

• COR provides ICMS to help HC and PHAC meet their legislative requirements, under two codes:

Public Service Labour Relations Act (s. 207)

• Requiring to have an informal conflict management system in place designed to support the Government of Canada's commitment to "fair, credible and efficient resolution of matters arising in the workplace.

Workplace harassment and violence prevention regulations of the Canada labour code

• COR provides conciliation services when requested by the principal party who made a notice of occurrence.

Our services:

• Consultation, coaching, facilitated discussion, mediation, conciliation, group intervention and preventive training sessions;
• Are complementary to formal processes such as grievances and workplace violence and harassment complaints;
• Empower and equip individuals from HC and PHAC to address workplace issues and conflict constructively.

COR financial overview (2024-25)

Total COR Budget in 2024-25 is $1.9 M

• O&M: $76.7K
• Salary: $1.8 M (~18 FTEs)
• Pressure funding requests ($316K) is pending for PHAC for full salary of 2.5 FTEs and 25% O&M adjustment.
• Pressure funding from IT Services ($110K) has been granted to finalize a necessary case management system update, to be cloud-compliant.

(Health Canada Deputy Minister Briefing Materials.)

Related posts: Canadian Government Compiles List of Federal Ombuds Offices.