2019-2020 Annual Report
Foster an agile and high-performing organization

CIPO's diverse and skilled workforce is the foundation of our success. We are committed to providing employees with the knowledge, tools and work environment they need to perform their jobs effectively and efficiently. Over the past year, we continued to recruit employees and invest in the training and well-being of our workforce. The modernization of our workspace has begun, which will provide a modern, connected and collaborative work environment.

A highly skilled workforce

In the past year alone, CIPO hired 50 new patent examiners as part of a multi-year campaign to recruit a new cohort of examiners in all patent divisions. A new intensive training and apprenticeship program will bring these new examiners to full productivity in less than 2 years. In addition, CIPO hired 37 new trademark and industrial design examiners to address a rise in application volumes and reduce turnaround times. Finally, we added 3 new members to the Patent Appeal Board to reduce inventory levels and turnaround times for patent appeals.

With an eye to the future, we brought in 101 students through the Federal Student Work Experience Program and co-op employment program. Students represent the future of CIPO, and it is our goal to provide a positive working experience and a rewarding career option. Recognizing the value of diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace, we also hired several employees through the Federal Internship for Newcomers Program, the Indigenous Student Employment Opportunity, the Employment Opportunity for Students with Disabilities and the LiveWorkPlay program.

Legislative changes associated with the new patent and trademark treaties resulted in significant changes to CIPO's policies and office practices. We reviewed training programs for both patent and trademark examiners to equip employees with the knowledge and tools necessary to conduct their duties under the new regime. In our Patent Branch alone, we provided 70 training sessions on the concepts and rules that were modified after the implementation of the Patent Law Treaty and 36 hands-on training sessions on changes to the processing of patent applications.

A respectful and healthy workplace

At CIPO, we recognize the equal status of the French and English languages and believe that bilingualism is necessary to providing excellent service to Canadians. In 2019–2020, we continued our efforts to strengthen our bilingual capacity and establish a workplace culture that uses both official languages. We supported employees in the acquisition or maintenance of their second official language through initiatives such as the Official Languages Development Program, the Informal Language Mentoring Program and reading groups. As of March 2020, 82% of CIPO employees in managerial or supervisory positions were fluently bilingual, an increase of 23% in the last 3 years.

Throughout the year, we offered training and information sessions on mental health, civility and respect in the workplace. We provided training on creating a positive space to foster a safe, open-minded, unbiased and progressive work environment for all our employees, including members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and 2-spirit (LGBTQ2+) communities. We also continued to encourage well-being and resilience through the 30 Day Mindfulness Challenge. As of March 2020, 130 employees had taken up the challenge.

A modern work environment

Improving CIPO's IT infrastructure and work tools has been a focus over the past several years and continues to be an area of significant investment. To deliver on our IT modernization objectives more effectively and efficiently, we have set up 2 dedicated modernization portfolios: 1 for client-facing digital services and 1 for our back-end systems. Over the past year, IT improvements included new laptops and scanners, upgraded conference rooms and a Wi-Fi network that is accessible in all CIPO offices, hallways and meeting rooms.

In 2019–2020, CIPO continued to advance workplace modernization with a view to providing more modern and collaborative workspaces to CIPO employees as well as supporting the easing of restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the project, CIPO is committed to ongoing engagement with employees, managers, unions and stakeholders to ensure the changes we make meet our needs for the coming years.

Responsible financial management

CIPO is committed to management excellence and sound financial stewardship to ensure its long-term financial viability. In the last 2 years, we deployed substantial efforts to develop and promote a long-term financial strategy. We also designed tools and reports that provide key financial information to inform and support timely decision making. For the 25th consecutive year, our financial audit resulted in an unqualified audit opinion. CIPO's financial strategy remains flexible, enabling management to shift resources as new priorities arise.