Expansion of National Area of Selection - News Release

November 13, 2007

Ottawa, November 13, 2007 - Maria Barrados, President of the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Canada, today announced that the PSC will begin pilot projects on the expansion of national area of selection (NAOS) to non-officer level positions open to the public in December 2007, with the goal of full implementation by December 2008. She also announced the expansion of NAOS to apply to all full-time Federal Student Work Experience Program job opportunities beginning with the next recruitment campaign in fall of 2008.

The PSC will begin the final phase of NAOS implementation with pilot projects for non-officer level positions in the National Capital Region.

The PSC has taken a phased and measured approach to implementing the area of selection policy. In April 2006, NAOS was applied to officer-level positions in the National Capital Region. In April 2007, the PSC extended the use of NAOS to include officer-level positions open to the public in all regions across Canada. Officer-level positions include scientific and professional, administrative and technical functions.

Data from previous stages of implementation shows greater experience and system readiness are needed for successful expansion to all remaining groups and levels across the country. The PSC will now move forward with full implementation by December 2008, once it can ensure government-wide readiness to meet the increased volume of applications resulting from this expansion. Full implementation of NAOS will mean that all externally advertised jobs will be open to all Canadians regardless of their area of residence.

In the coming year, the PSC will support federal departments and agencies to put in place the tools and services to enable the full roll-out of NAOS to all remaining groups and levels across the country. This includes assisting departments and agencies in using the Public Service Resourcing System and managing large application volumes and collective processes, as well as providing the necessary assessment tools, including electronic tests.

"The PSC remains committed to broadening Canadians' access to job opportunities in the federal public service," said Ms. Barrados. "Ensuring access to public service jobs is a key value and priority for the Public Service Commission and we are committed to supporting federal departments and agencies in realizing the objectives of this important initiative."

The PSC is also expanding NAOS to Federal Student Work Experience Program employment opportunities. As of fall 2008, full-time students will be eligible for student jobs offered in the federal public service across Canada. The prime objective of FSWEP is to provide full-time students with work experience related to their field of study and to provide them with learning opportunities.

As of April 2006, the use of NAOS increased the proportion of jobs open nationally for Canadians from 19% to 29%. This is expected to rise to 55% as a result of the expansion that took place in April 2007.

The PSC is responsible for safeguarding the integrity of the staffing system in the federal public service, for ensuring the political impartiality of public servants and for recruiting talented Canadians drawn from across the country.

For additional details on National Area of Selection Implementation please see the backgrounder.

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For more information, contact:

France Langlois
Media Relations, Public Service Commission
(613) 947-7269
media@psc-cfp.gc.ca