Two public servants allowed to run

Summary#

The Public Service Commission of Canada has granted permission under the Public Service Employment Act for two federal employees to seek elected office. It also approved unpaid leave during the election periods for each employee once they become official candidates.

What it does#

• For Rouba Al-Fattal, Senior Economist at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada:

  • Gives permission to seek nomination and to be a candidate in the federal election in the electoral district of Kanata–Carleton, Ontario.
  • Grants a leave of absence without pay during the election period, starting the first day she is a candidate.
  • The federal election is expected to be held on or before October 20, 2025.

• For Valaria Van Den Broek, Detachment Services Assistant with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP):

  • Gives permission to seek nomination and to be a candidate in the provincial election in the electoral district of Langley, British Columbia.
  • Grants a leave of absence without pay during the election period, starting the first day she is a candidate.
  • The provincial election is expected to be held on or before October 19, 2024.

Who's affected#

• The two named employees: Rouba Al-Fattal and Valaria Van Den Broek.
• Their employers: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
• Voters in Kanata–Carleton, Ontario and Langley, British Columbia may notice these employees as candidates.
• The Public Service Commission of Canada is the decision-maker that issued the permissions and leaves.

Why it matters#

• It lets public servants run for elected office while preserving the neutral status of their public roles by moving them to unpaid leave once they are official candidates.
• Voters in the named districts may see these public servants on the ballot.
• This is a routine administrative action showing how the public service handles employees who want to enter electoral politics.