u/mzwai99

Hi all, Mzwandile Poncana with The Hill Times here. I'm currently looking into a specific issue related to RTO: whether onsite-attendance requirements are being incorporated into employees' performance agreements, PMAs or performance assessments.

PIPSC has historically said it has received reports of some managers including onsite-attendance targets in performance reviews. I'm trying to establish how widespread the practice is, which departments or agencies are using it, and how far RTO compliance can affect an employee's performance rating.

If this has happened in your workplace (or former workplace), please DM me or email me at mponcana@hilltimes.com. In particular, I'm interested in:

• the department or agency
• when the requirement appeared
• the wording used in the PMA/performance agreement
• whether it appears to be a standard departmental requirement or something added by an individual manager
• whether employees were told that failing to meet the onsite requirement could affect their performance rating.

Redacted screenshots or copies of the relevant wording would be especially helpful.

There's no need to post identifying details publicly. Anyone considering speaking for the story can also discuss anonymity with me before anything is attributed or published.

Thank you.

Hi, I’m a reporter with The Hill Times working on a story about Global Affairs Canada’s latest misconduct and wrongdoing report.

I’m looking to speak with current or former GAC employees who have submitted a workplace misconduct or wrongdoing complaint, particularly where the complaint did not proceed to a formal investigation, was handled through fact-finding or informal resolution, or remained unresolved.

Conversations can begin on background, and no identifying information would be published without agreement. Please send me a private message or email me at mponcana@hilltimes.com.

My deadline is 3 p.m. ET today, Thursday, Aug. 6.

As wildfires force evacuations across northwestern Ontario, destroy homes and community infrastructure, and send smoke across Ontario and into the United States, I’m reporting on whether federal workforce reductions have affected the scientific capacity used to anticipate and respond to these disasters.

I’m Mzwandile Poncana, The Hill Times’ public service reporter. I’m hoping to speak with current or recently departed federal public servants who work, or previously worked, in areas such as:

• wildfire or disaster mapping;
• Earth observation and remote sensing;
• the Canadian Forest Service;
• wildfire monitoring or research; or
• climate adaptation and emergency preparedness.

I’m particularly interested in whether staffing changes since late 2025 have affected teams, projects, data products, partnerships or services—and whether any effects are becoming apparent during the current wildfire situation.

Anyone interested can contact me privately at mponcana@hilltimes.com. We can discuss confidentiality and attribution before any interview.