The Province intends to appoint an acting merit commissioner to ensure B.C. public service employees experience no service interruptions while the role transitions to the Public Service Agency.

As of Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the previous commissioner’s term has concluded as scheduled. Tracy Campbell, a retired public servant, who has served as an assistant deputy minister and executive financial officer, is to be appointed to serve as acting commissioner until the transfer of duties to the Public Service Agency is complete. As part of her role, Campbell would oversee the finalization and publication of the annual report in progress.

When legislation is passed and the transfer is complete, the Public Service Agency will provide staffing reviews, quality assurance and annual public reporting for the B.C. public service. The avenue for public service employees with questions or concerns about hiring processes will continue to be through their respective ministry, as it was previously. Applicants and employees of the B.C. public service will continue to have the same rights, entitlements and options for recourse they have now.

The Public Service Agency is a non-partisan, professional organization. Similar to the Office of the Merit Commissioner, the Public Service Agency does not make hiring decisions about employees in individual ministries. This allows the agency to provide the same level of arms-length oversight for staffing processes.

The reintegration of these functions into the Public Service Agency is projected to reduce costs, improve access to services for government workers and align B.C. with the practices of all provinces in Canada.

Quick Facts:

• The transition of the merit commissioner’s duties to the Public Service Agency will be completed when the budget measures implementation act is approved this spring.
• The merit commissioner’s role in conducting staffing reviews and reporting was carried out by the Public Service Agency prior to 2006.
• The 2024-25 Merit Performance Audit was released in December 2025 and noted improved results from the previous year, with the second-highest findings of merit since 2012.
• The Public Service Agency has strengthened its processes to ensure government has a transparent, accountable hiring culture in response to recommendations made by the Office of the Ombudsperson in past investigation reports about how the Public Service Agency executes its core functions.

Learn More:

• For more information about B.C. legislation, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/legislation