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Auditor general stands by stinging criticism of Phoenix pay system

Click to play video: 'Phoenix pay system ‘an incomprehensible failure’'
Phoenix pay system ‘an incomprehensible failure’
WATCH: Phoenix pay system ‘an incomprehensible failure’ – May 29, 2018

OTTAWA – Auditor general Michael Ferguson is standing by his conclusion that the federal public service’s “obedient” culture led to the “incomprehensible failure” of the Phoenix pay system.

Ferguson reiterated his criticisms Thursday before the House of Commons public accounts committee – just two days after the top federal civil servant blasted the auditor general’s critique of the public service as “an opinion piece.”

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Ferguson’s audit report last month concluded that the Phoenix system was an “incomprehensible failure” of project management and oversight, which led to green-lighting a system that wasn’t ready.

READ MORE: Auditor general slams Phoenix pay system rollout

The report said it was unfathomable that no one spoke up to say it wasn’t going to work and needed to be stopped; it blamed “an obedient culture” among public servants – a message Ferguson repeated at committee Thursday.

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Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick disputed that conclusion during an appearance before the same committee earlier this week, accusing the auditor of making “sweeping generalizations” about public servants.

The Phoenix system has resulted in thousands of federal civil servants being under-paid, over-paid or not paid at all.

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