Priority entitlement

Overview

Priority entitlement gives you the right to be considered for available jobs before other candidates. It exists to support employees during major career or personal transitions like workforce adjustment, becoming disabled, returning from extended leave, or spousal relocation.

Before your priority starts, your manager will explain:

  • why you are receiving priority status
  • when it starts
  • how long it lasts

They will also give you forms to complete for the Priority Administration System.

Where you can be considered for jobs

Your job search area (“mobility”) depends on the type of priority:

  • Surplus or lay-off: Any Parks Canada location that you’ve identified.
  • Relocation of spouse: Only at your spouse’s new location, if there is an approved Parks Canada site available to work from.
  • Leave of absence, reduction of tenure, reinstatement, downward reclassification, or return to level: Only within your normal geographic work area.
  • Disability: Within your business unit, and other Parks Canada locations at your request and with management approval.

If you want to move somewhere that is outside the areas identified above, you can discuss this with your manager, and it may be approved if the manager at the new location also approves.

Your priority in staffing

Hiring managers must check for qualified priority persons before filling any term or indeterminate position, unless hiring them would create a new priority situation for someone else.

If you meet the essential qualifications and conditions of employment, you must be considered for appointment before any other candidates. You don’t need to meet asset qualifications or other criteria.

You will not be automatically referred to jobs that would be a demotion or reduce your season length, but you can self‑refer to competitions for those positions if you choose. In your application, note that you are a priority person.

You are not entitled to a promotion through priority status.

Your responsibilities

As someone with priority status, you should:

Stay active and engaged

  • Complete the registration forms for the Priority Administration System in a timely manner
  • Be available and well prepared for assessments when you are referred for jobs
  • Actively look for work
  • Conduct your own job searches
  • Self‑refer to staffing processes when you meet the essential qualifications
  • Tell hiring managers you have priority status when you apply, including the type and end date (if applicable)

Respond promptly

  • Reply to hiring managers by the date requested
  • Explain how you meet the essential qualifications
  • If you decline an offer, provide your reasons

Inform your home manager

  • Update them about any changes to your profile (e.g., contact information, location, availability, and qualifications) or any conditions that could impact your priority status
  • Let them know immediately if you are appointed to a new position

Important

Declining a reasonable indeterminate job offer without good reason can lead to your priority status ending.

Types of priority entitlement

Employment security priorities

People with employment security priority are considered before those with people management priorities. You are entitled to employment security priority in the following situations:

Surplus

Given to employees who have been officially notified, in writing, that their job is no longer needed, and who have selected a twelve-month surplus priority period from a list of options.

This priority status lasts for one year, plus any unused time from the 120-day opting period.

It ends when:

  • your priority status expires
  • you get another indeterminate job
  • you turn down a reasonable job offer without a good reason
  • you resign or retire from Parks Canada

Lay-off

Given to employees who have been laid off because there is no longer enough work, their job has been eliminated, or their work has been moved outside of Parks Canada.

This priority status lasts for one year.

It ends when:

  • your priority status expires
  • you get another indeterminate job
  • you turn down a reasonable indeterminate offer without a good reason

Leave of absence

Given to employees who are coming back from a non-medical leave, and their job was filled indeterminately while they were away. This could happen if the leave lasted for more than a year.

This priority status lasts for one year after your return to work.

It ends when:

  • your priority status expires
  • you get another indeterminate job
  • you turn down a reasonable indeterminate offer without a good reason
  • you resign or retire from Parks Canada

Disability

Reason 1: Given to employees who are coming back from a medical leave, and their job was filled indeterminately while they were away. This could happen if the leave lasted for more than a year.

Reason 2: Given to employees who have a disability that prevents them from doing their current job.

This priority status starts on the day a medical professional says you can return to work and lasts for two years, not counting any time when you can’t work for medical reasons. The manager may extend it if needed, on a case-by-case basis.

It ends when:

  • your priority status expires
  • you get another indeterminate job
  • you turn down a reasonable indeterminate offer without a good reason
  • you resign or retire from Parks Canada

Relocation of spouse

Given to employees who have taken leave without pay to move with their spouse, and Parks Canada has a workplace in the new location (where the spouse has relocated).

This priority status lasts until the end of your relocation of spouse leave.

It ends when:

  • your priority status expires
  • you get another indeterminate job
  • you turn down a reasonable indeterminate offer without a good reason
  • you resign or retire from Parks Canada

Reduction of tenure

Given to employees whose work hours or seasonal work schedule have been permanently reduced. The priority is for a return to the original hours/schedule in a similar position.

This priority status does not expire.

It ends when:

  • you get another indeterminate job
  • you turn down a reasonable indeterminate offer without a good reason
  • you resign or retire from Parks Canada

People management priorities

You are entitled to people management priority in the following situations, and in the following order of importance:

1. Reinstatement

Given to employees who were identified as surplus or laid off and then given a lower-level appointment. The priority is for a return to the original rate of pay (one with a maximum rate of pay that is the same or higher) in a similar position.

This priority status does not expire.

It ends when:

  • you get another indeterminate job at the original rate of pay
  • you turn down a reasonable indeterminate offer at the original rate of pay without a good reason
  • you resign or retire from Parks Canada

2. Downward reclassification

Given to employees whose indeterminate position was reclassified at a lower level. The priority is for a return to the original rate of pay (one with a maximum rate of pay that is the same or higher) in a similar position.

This priority status does not expire.

It ends when:

  • you leave the reclassified position
  • you turn down a reasonable indeterminate offer at the original rate of pay without a good reason
  • the maximum rate of pay in your reclassified position becomes greater than that of the original level
  • you resign or retire from Parks Canada

3. Return to level

Given to employees who were identified as surplus or laid off and then won a lower-level job through self-referral. The priority is for a return to the original salary (one with a maximum rate of pay that is the same or higher) in a similar position.

This priority status lasts for two years.

It ends when:

  • your priority status expires
  • you get another indeterminate job
  • you turn down a reasonable indeterminate offer without a good reason
  • you resign or retire from Parks Canada

References

If you have any questions about your priority entitlement, please contact your manager.

Related links

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