Browse everything
Every acronym and phrase in this prototype, filtered by the area of work it belongs to.
- AAFCGeneral
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The department responsible for agriculture and the food system.
- ACFOHR & Leave
Association of Canadian Financial Officers
The union representing federal financial officers, the FI group.
- ACOAGeneral
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
The regional development agency for Atlantic Canada. Each region of the country has an equivalent.
- ADMGeneral
A senior executive responsible for a major branch or area within a federal department.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- ARLUFinance
The yearly exercise that sets how much money each department is formally planning to spend.
- ASStaffing
Administrative Services (occupational group)
A classification group covering administrative and program support roles, usually AS-01 to AS-08.
- ATIAInformation Management
The statute giving the public a right of access to records held by government institutions.
- ATIPInformation Management
Access to Information and Privacy
The function that handles formal requests from the public for records, and requests from individuals for their own personal information.
- BCPSecurity
The documented plan for continuing critical functions when normal operations are interrupted.
- BNGeneral
A short structured document written to inform a senior decision-maker.
- BYODIT
Using a personal phone or computer for work. Heavily restricted in government, and prohibited outright for most protected information.
- CAEGeneral
The senior official leading internal audit within a department.
- CAFGeneral
The military itself, as distinct from the civilian department that supports it.
- CAPEHR & Leave
Canadian Association of Professional Employees
A union representing economists, policy analysts and translators, among others.
- CBCStaffing
A second-language profile on a job posting. The three letters are your required levels in reading, writing and speaking. A is lowest, C is highest, E is exempt.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- CBSAGeneral
The agency responsible for border and customs operations.
- CCCSSecurity
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
The part of CSE that provides cyber security advice and incident response to government and beyond.
- CDOIT
The executive accountable for how an organization manages data.
- CETAProcurement
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
The Canada–European Union trade agreement. Like CFTA, it opens larger public contracts to a wider pool of suppliers.
- CFOFinance
The executive accountable for financial management in a department.
- CFTAProcurement
The internal trade agreement between the provinces, territories and the federal government. It sets rules for how public contracts above certain values must be opened to suppliers across Canada.
- CGIGeneral
The official newspaper of the Government of Canada, where regulations are published.
- CHRAWorkplace
The statute prohibiting discrimination on protected grounds, and the legal basis for the duty to accommodate.
- CHRCWorkplace
Canadian Human Rights Commission
The body that receives and investigates discrimination complaints under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
- CIOIT
The executive accountable for technology and information management in an organization.
- CIRNACGeneral
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
The department responsible for Crown-Indigenous relations, treaties and northern affairs.
- CITTProcurement
Canadian International Trade Tribunal
The independent body a supplier can complain to if they think a federal procurement was run unfairly.
- COMSECSecurity
Protecting information while it moves: encryption, approved devices, and the rules for handling the keys.
- COOPSecurity
The plan for keeping critical services running during a disruption.
- CPPHR & Leave
The national contributory pension, separate from and additional to the public service pension.
- CRStaffing
The classification group covering administrative and clerical positions, largely folded into AS over time.
- CRAGeneral
The agency that administers tax and many benefit programs.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- CSIT
Computer Systems (occupational group)
The former classification group for computer systems roles. Largely converted to the IT group.
- CSAGeneral
The federal agency responsible for Canada's space program.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- CSESecurity
Communications Security Establishment
The national agency for signals intelligence and cyber security, including guidance for departments.
- CSISSecurity
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
The national security intelligence service, which also conducts security screening investigations.
- CSPSGeneral
Canada School of Public Service
The common learning provider for the federal public service: required and optional courses.
- DFOGeneral
The department responsible for fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
- DGGeneral
An executive who runs a directorate, usually several directors and their teams report to them.
- DMGeneral
The most senior public servant in a department, the head of the organization, accountable to the minister.
- DNDGeneral
Department of National Defence
The department supporting the Canadian Armed Forces and national defence.
- DPGeneral
The public document setting out a department's planned priorities and spending for the coming year.
- DRFGeneral
Departmental Results Framework
The structure describing what a department is trying to achieve and how it measures progress.
- DRRGeneral
The public document reporting what a department actually achieved against its plan.
- DTAHR & Leave
The employer's legal obligation to adjust the work or workplace so someone can do the job, up to the point of undue hardship.
- EAPWorkplace
A confidential support service for employees, typically including short-term counselling.
- ECStaffing
Economics and Social Science Services (occupational group)
A classification group for policy, research and analysis roles, usually EC-01 to EC-08.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- ECCCGeneral
Environment and Climate Change Canada
The federal department responsible for environmental matters and weather services.
- EDIWorkplace
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The work of making sure the workplace is representative and that people are treated fairly within it.
- EEStaffing
The framework for improving representation of designated groups in the workforce.
- EIHR & Leave
Federal income support during unemployment, parental leave, sickness or caregiving.
- EOIStaffing
A light-touch call asking who would be interested in an opportunity, short of a formal process.
- ESDCGeneral
Employment and Social Development Canada
The department responsible for employment programs, social benefits and labour, including Service Canada.
- EXStaffing
Executive (occupational group)
The classification group for executives, typically EX-01 through EX-05. Higher number, more senior.
- FAAFinance
The statute governing how public money is managed, spent and accounted for.
- FIFinance
Financial Management (occupational group)
The classification group for financial officers and analysts, usually FI-01 to FI-04.
- FINGeneral
The department responsible for the federal budget, tax policy and the overall fiscal framework.
- FTEFinance
A unit for counting staff capacity. One FTE is one person working full time for a year.
- G&CFinance
Money the government gives to organizations or people outside government, rather than spending on itself.
- GACGeneral
The department responsible for foreign policy, international trade and development.
- GBAGeneral
An analytical process for assessing how an initiative affects different groups of people.
- GCGeneral
The federal government as a whole.
- GCCOLLABGeneral
A collaboration platform for public servants, including across jurisdictions and with academia.
- GCDOCSInformation Management
A document and records management system used by many departments to store official records.
- GCPEDIAInformation Management
An internal wiki for public servants to share information across departments.
- GCSIT
The service through which government disposes of surplus assets.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- GICGeneral
The Governor General acting on Cabinet's advice, the formal authority behind regulations and senior appointments.
- GOCGeneral
Same as GC, an older or less common written form.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- HCGeneral
The federal department responsible for health policy and regulation.
- HRHR & Leave
The function handling staffing, pay, leave and labour relations.
- IMInformation Management
The practice of storing, organizing and disposing of records properly.
- IMITIT
Information Management and Information Technology
The two disciplines treated as one function: what information you keep and how, plus the systems that hold it.
- INFCGeneral
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
The department responsible for infrastructure and housing programs.
- IRCCGeneral
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
The department responsible for immigration, refugee protection and citizenship.
- ISCGeneral
The department responsible for services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
- ISEDGeneral
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
The department responsible for industry, innovation and economic development.
- ITIT
Information Technology (occupational group)
The classification group for technology roles, IT-01 to IT-05, the people who build and run systems.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- ITSGSecurity
Information Technology Security Guidance
The technical security guidance series published by the Communications Security Establishment.
- JUSGeneral
The government's law department. Provides legal advice to every other department and drafts legislation.
- KPIGeneral
A measure chosen to track whether something is working.
- LPStaffing
The classification group for lawyers employed by the federal government.
- LRHR & Leave
The specialists who advise on collective agreements, grievances and discipline.
- LTDHR & Leave
Income replacement if you can't work for an extended period because of illness or injury.
- LWOPHR & Leave
Approved time away from work during which you are not paid.
- MAFGeneral
Management Accountability Framework
The annual assessment that scores departments on how well they are managed: finance, people, IT, security and more.
- MCGeneral
A document seeking a policy decision from Cabinet. Confidential and tightly controlled.
- MFASecurity
Signing in with more than a password, usually a code or prompt on a second device.
- MOUGeneral
A written agreement between organizations setting out who does what. Often not a contract in the legal sense.
- NCRWorkplace
Ottawa and Gatineau, taken together. Where most headquarters positions are based.
- NHQWorkplace
The central office of a department, as opposed to its regional offices.
- NJCHR & Leave
A forum where the employer and bargaining agents jointly develop directives that usually form part of collective agreements.
- NMSOProcurement
National Master Standing Offer
A pre-negotiated government-wide arrangement to buy something at set prices, so individual departments don't each run their own competition.
- NRCGeneral
The federal government's research and development organization.
- NRCANGeneral
The department responsible for natural resources, energy and earth sciences.
- O&MFinance
The budget that pays for everything except salaries: travel, training, contracts, software, supplies.
- OAGGeneral
The independent office that audits government operations and reports to Parliament.
- OCHROHR & Leave
Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer
The part of TBS that sets people management policy across government.
- OGDGeneral
Any federal department that isn't yours. Used when something depends on a decision you don't control.
- OHSWorkplace
Occupational Health and Safety
The function and rules covering physical and psychological safety at work.
- OICInformation Management
Office of the Information Commissioner
The independent office that investigates complaints about access to information requests.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- OLGeneral
Shorthand for obligations and requirements relating to English and French.
- OLAGeneral
The statute setting out obligations for both official languages in federal institutions.
- OPCPrivacy
Office of the Privacy Commissioner
The independent office overseeing compliance with federal privacy law and investigating complaints.
- OPIGeneral
The team that owns a file and is accountable for it.
- PAPrivacy
The statute governing how government handles personal information, and individuals' right to their own.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- PBOFinance
An independent officer who costs out government proposals and reports to Parliament, not to the government.
- PCHGeneral
The department responsible for arts, culture, heritage, official languages and sport.
- PCOGeneral
The department supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and coordinating across government.
- PEStaffing
The classification group for human resources staff: advisors, staffing, classification, labour relations.
- PGSSecurity
The central policy setting out how departments protect information, people and assets.
- PHACGeneral
Public Health Agency of Canada
The agency responsible for public health, emergency preparedness and disease control.
- PIAPrivacy
A structured review of how a program or system handles personal information, done before launch.
- PIPSCHR & Leave
Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
A union representing many professional and scientific groups in the federal public service.
- PMStaffing
Programme Administration (occupational group)
A classification group for program delivery and operational roles, usually PM-01 to PM-06.
+2 other meanings, so context matters
- PMAHR & Leave
Performance Management Agreement
The document recording your objectives and how you'll be assessed against them.
- PMOGeneral
The Prime Minister's political staff. Not the public service, and not the same as the Privy Council Office.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- POCGeneral
The named person to contact about something.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- PRIHR & Leave
Your permanent employee number in the federal government. It follows you between departments.
- PSGeneral
The department coordinating national security, emergency management, policing and corrections.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- PSACHR & Leave
Public Service Alliance of Canada
One of the largest federal public service unions.
- PSCStaffing
The independent agency responsible for safeguarding merit-based, non-partisan staffing.
- PSDCPHR & Leave
Public Service Dental Care Plan
The dental plan for federal employees, negotiated separately from health coverage.
- PSEAStaffing
The statute governing appointments to the federal public service.
- PSESWorkplace
Public Service Employee Survey
The periodic government-wide survey of employees on workplace experience.
- PSHCPHR & Leave
Public Service Health Care Plan
The supplementary health plan for federal employees and pensioners: prescriptions, paramedical, out-of-country.
- PSLREBHR & Leave
Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board
The tribunal that hears labour relations and staffing complaints in the federal public service.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- PSPCProcurement
Public Services and Procurement Canada
The department that acts as the government's central purchasing agent, real property manager and pay administrator.
- PSPMHR & Leave
Public Service Performance Management
The annual cycle of setting objectives, mid-year review and year-end assessment.
- PSPPHR & Leave
The federal public service pension. A defined benefit plan. The payout is based on your salary and years of service, not on markets.
- PWGSCProcurement
Public Works and Government Services Canada
The former name of Public Services and Procurement Canada. Same organization, renamed in 2015.
- RCMPGeneral
The national police service.
- RDGGeneral
The senior executive responsible for a department's operations in one region of the country.
- RFIProcurement
A market-research step asking suppliers what's available, without committing to buy.
- RFPProcurement
A competitive solicitation asking suppliers to propose how they'd meet a need, and at what price.
- RIASGeneral
Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement
The plain-language explanation published alongside a proposed regulation, setting out why it exists and its expected effects.
- ROEHR & Leave
The document issued when employment or earnings are interrupted, used for benefit claims.
- RTOWorkplace
The requirement to work on-site a set number of days. The number has changed more than once.
- SAProcurement
A pre-qualified list of suppliers you can compete among, rather than opening it to the whole market.
- SA&ASecurity
Security Assessment and Authorization
The process of assessing a system's security and formally accepting the remaining risk before it goes live.
- SADMGeneral
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister
An Assistant Deputy Minister with seniority over the other ADMs in a department, sitting just below the Deputy.
- SCGeneral
The public-facing service delivery arm associated with ESDC: offices, call centres, benefit applications.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- SLAIT
A written commitment about how quickly and how reliably a service will be delivered.
- SLEStaffing
The standardized tests that assign your reading, writing and oral levels in your second official language.
- SMEGeneral
The person who actually knows how something works.
+1 other meaning, so context matters
- SOProcurement
A pre-arranged deal with suppliers letting you order goods or services without running a new process each time.
- SOPGeneral
The documented way a routine task is supposed to be done.
- SORProcurement
A description of what is needed, before it becomes a statement of work.
- SOWProcurement
The document that describes exactly what a supplier must deliver, when, and to what standard.
- SSCIT
The organization that provides common IT infrastructure (networks, data centres, email and device services) to many departments.
- STATCANGeneral
The national statistical agency, responsible for the census and official statistics.
- SWEFinance
The money set aside specifically for salaries. Separate from the operating budget, and much harder to move.
- TBFinance
A committee of ministers that acts as the government's management board and approves certain spending and policies.
- TBSGeneral
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
The department that supports the Treasury Board and issues government-wide management policies and directives.
- TCGeneral
The department responsible for transportation policy and safety regulation.
- TORGeneral
The document defining what a committee or group is for and what it can decide.
- TRASecurity
A security review identifying what could go wrong with a system and how bad it would be.
- TRCGeneral
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The commission that documented the residential school system and issued 94 Calls to Action, many directed at the federal government.
- UNDRIPGeneral
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
An international declaration Canada has committed to implementing in federal law, setting out the rights of Indigenous peoples.
- VACGeneral
The department responsible for services and benefits to veterans.
- VPNIT
The secure connection used to reach departmental systems from outside the office.
- WAGEGeneral
Women and Gender Equality Canada
The department responsible for advancing gender equality, and the steward of GBA Plus.
- WGGeneral
A group of staff doing detailed work below the level where decisions get taken.