Phoenix pay errors continue to haunt public service a decade after launch

OTTAWA — Errors stemming from the federal government’s Phoenix pay system continue to plague thousands of public servants, 10 years after the system’s launch.

Karine Chawla, who works for Transport Canada, says she is being told she still owes $35,000 in overpayments dating back to 2017.

Chawla says most of the money owed dates from prior to the six-year limitation period for overpayment recovery and the total includes sums she has already paid.

She also says she was warned in June that more unpaid Phoenix bills are coming her way, leaving her feeling unsettled and trapped.