Federal Employees Compensated $685 Million for Phoenix Pay System Error: Briefing Note

Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada affected by Phoenix Pay System errors protest on the three-year anniversary of the launch of the pay system, in Ottawa on Feb. 28, 2019. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang

Federal employees have been compensated around $685 million by the government for a payment error that occurred several years ago resulting from a glitch in the Phoenix payroll software system, according to an internal briefing note.

“To date approximately $685 million has been paid in damages relating to the Phoenix Pay System,” said a briefing note prepared for Treasury Board President Mona Fortier on Nov. 21, 2022, and obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.