Dear AJC Members,

Since our last update, there has been sustained advocacy to support LP-01 members who were part of the Department of Justice LP-01 Training and Development Program. The AJC has rarely seen such a response to an Employer decision from members. The decision to pause the LP-01 Program was the wrong decision, and one that penalizes members in the LP-01 classification. 

 

What the AJC is doing?

  • AJC President, Gregory Harlow, met with Acting Deputy Minister, Isabelle Jacques and Assistant Deputy Minister, Samantha Dickson at the Department of Justice to discuss the decision to pause the LP-01 Program. They informed the AJC that, at this time, there is no intent to reverse the decision.
  • The AJC has prepared two types of individual grievances for members who were part of the LP-01 Program.
  • One grievance is prepared for members who expected to be promoted in August 2025. A different grievance is prepared for members who were part of the LP-01 Training and Development Program, but had not submitted their Workplan to management.
  • The AJC cannot file grievances for excluded members as the Union would not have standing to represent them.
  • Due to the volume of grievances that the AJC is filing, no changes can be made to the grievance template. The grievance language is intentionally overly inclusive to ensure that arguments that the AJC may advance in the future are not precluded.
  • The deadline to file grievances on this matter may be as early as next week depending on when an LP-01 was advised by their manager of the pause to the LP-01 Program.
  • If you are an LP01 and wish to file a grievance, please file an Intake Form as soon as possible if you have not already done so.
  • The AJC will file a policy grievance about the pause to the LP-01 Program, which was done without consultation with the AJC. Note that policy grievances are statutorily barred from delivering individual remedies for affected members, which is why we are filing individual grievances for affected members. 

 

What LP-01s can do?

  • If you have not yet filed an Intake Form detailing your circumstances with respect to the LP-01 Training and Development Program and whether you wish to file a grievance, please do so.
  • When filing an Intake Form, members should specify their circumstances:
    • When did you start working at the Department of Justice?
    • When did you begin in the LP-01 Program?
    • When did you expect to / or already submit their Workplan for evaluation?
    • When were you advised that the LP-01 Program was to be paused?

This will make it easier for the AJC to triage requests to ensure that the correct grievance is filed within the appropriate deadline. 

  • For many members, deciding to file a grievance a difficult decision. However, the AJC believes that the circumstances merit filing a grievance and we will support you through the process.
  • LP-01s should keep their Workplan up to date. We do not know when or if the program will be unpaused. The information is still available on the Department of Justice Intranet: https://collaboration.justice.gc.ca/co/LP1TDP-PFPLP1/SitePages/Home.aspx

 

Find Out More 

  • The AJC is hosting its first Townhall meeting on this issue on Tuesday September 2, 2025 at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT, 10 a.m. MT, 11 a.m. CT, 1 p.m. AT).

    Zoom meeting link: (Contact the AJC for a link to the Zoom meeting)
     
  • All members are welcome to attend to find out more about the actions being taken by the AJC with respect to the decision to pause the LP-01 Program. There will be time for members' general questions at the Townhall.

 

We look forward to meeting with you on Tuesday.

 

Sincerely,

Association of Justice Counsel