The most satisfying part of public service and political life is taking on complex and difficult problems and seeing those efforts produce results for Canadians. It is a great honour to be named President of the Treasury Board, and with it comes the great responsibility of leading Canada’s world-class public service.
As a Parliamentarian and member of Cabinet, I closely followed the progress of my colleagues Minister Qualtrough at PSPC and former Treasury Board president Brison as they devoted themselves to resolving employee pay issues caused by the flawed Phoenix pay system.
In my new role as President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government, I commit to continue this work – with both PSPC in their critical efforts to stabilize Phoenix, and here at TBS as we race forward on developing options for new HR and pay solutions that will one day replace Phoenix.
The effort to develop a Next Generation HR and pay system is breaking new ground for government procurement in the digital age.
My first day on the job, in fact, I witnessed the first User Expo in the lobby of the offices of my new department. Public servants were enthusiastically exploring the navigation of the possible solutions. The team then took the expo to Montreal, Dartmouth, Victoria, Edmonton and Winnipeg, before returning earlier this week to the National Capital Region, where I was able to spend a bit more time with staff and users at the expo in Gatineau, QC.
Hundreds of employees have given us their thoughts as part of this process, and I was struck by the thoughtful and optimistic feedback from the employees I met.
That principle has been paramount throughout this exploration: putting employees’ needs at the centre of this new solution. To do that, the team has been engaging public servants and public service unions at all stages along the way in a truly open manner. It is, frankly, unprecedented.
At the expos in Ottawa and Gatineau, I saw some great ideas and comments on the expo’s Feedback Wall. It gave me a first-hand look into what public servants expect in a future HR and pay solution, but it also demonstrated the art of what is possible and what we can strive to achieve by working together.
Over the next several weeks the process will continue to unfold, and the team will keep communicating and keep engaging. For my part, this file is a top priority; it is simply unacceptable that public servants lack confidence in being paid properly and on time.
There is much work ahead. It is complex and difficult. Once we have finished assessing options this spring, we will maintain our relentless, employee-based focus on implementation. We’re going to get this right. Our employees – and the Canadians they serve – deserve nothing less.
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Submitted by Maryse Allain on March 04, 2019 - 6:45 PM
Next Gen Pay
Submitted by Denise Dey on April 08, 2019 - 4:58 PM
Next Generation HR & Pay System
Submitted by M. Boca on April 25, 2019 - 6:45 PM