Earlier, we noted senior managers who leave government face a number of employment restriction when they leave government. For example, they can’t take a job with an “outside entity” they’ve had “substantial involvement” with during the year prior to their departure. Nor can they “lobby or otherwise make representations” on behalf of such an entity. So how can Robin Ciceri, the former top bureaucrat at advanced education and labour market development, take a job with the Research Universities’ Council of British Columbia while that one-year cooling-off period is still in effect? Well, it’s because the council (which describes itself as being “independent” of government) isn’t an “outside entity.” It’s actually classified as a public service employer - just like the universities whose interests it represents. This, according to the ministry of citizens’ services.

In an email, a spokesperson explained, “The four directors of RUCBC are presidents of universities, and these people have been appointed to their positions by the boards of their universities (a responsibility under the University Act). As such, these appointed presidents comprise 100% of the council and are therefore considered a public sector employer.”

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