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PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES FORMATION
OF TASK FORCE ON MODERNIZING HUMAN
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE
April 3, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the formation of the Task Force
on Modernizing Human Resources Management in the Public Service. The Prime
Minister also confirmed that the Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President
of the Treasury Board, will be the Minister responsible for the reform of human
resources management in the Public Service.
The Prime Minister has appointed Ranald A. Quail, currently the Deputy
Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and Deputy Receiver
General, as Senior Advisor to the Privy Council Office to head the Task Force,
which will report to Mr. Mel Cappe, Clerk of the Privy Council, Secretary to
Cabinet and Head of the Public Service. This appointment is effective Monday,
April 9, 2001. The Task Force will support the Honourable Lucienne Robillard as
Minister responsible for human resources management reform.
"For generations, Canadians have been well served by a public service
which is committed to excellence,"
the Prime Minister said. "As I indicated in my replies to both the Speech
from the Throne and the Clerk’s 8th
Annual Report on the Public Service of Canada, the Government is committed to
ensuring that future generations of Canadians can count on a public service that
is innovative, dynamic and reflective of the diversity of the country. To that
end, the Government will take all the steps necessary to ensure that we continue
to have the talent necessary for a public service that is committed to
excellence. And we will make the necessary reforms to modernize the public
service for the requirements of the 21st century."
Over the years, there have been a number of reports which have common themes
with respect to improving human resources management in the Public Service:
- there is a need for clarity in roles of the players on human
resources management;
- managers must have a greater responsibility for human resources
management; and,
- there is a need to improve the efficiency of the system and
ensure fairness in the treatment of employees.
The mandate of the Task Force is to recommend a modern policy, legislative
and institutional framework for the management of human resources, to enable the
Public Service to attract, retain and develop the talent needed to serve
Canadians. The work of the Task Force will be guided by the values of merit,
non-partisanship, representativeness and competence. The Clerk will also draw on
the advice of an External Advisory Group that will comprise expertise from the
private, public and academic sectors.
A biographical note for Mr. Ranald A. Quail and a backgrounder are attached.
- 30 -
PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
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BACKGROUNDER
TASK FORCE ON MODERNIZING
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE
In the January 2001 Speech from the Throne, the Government "committed to
the reforms needed for the Public Service of Canada to continue evolving and
adapting. These reforms will ensure that the Public Service is innovative,
dynamic and reflective of the diversity of the country - able to attract and
develop the talent needed to serve Canadians in the 21st century."
In the 8th
Annual Report to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada, tabled in
Parliament on March 30, 2001, the Clerk of the Privy Council signalled the move
from an "incremental approach to reform to a more fundamental reform of the
legislative framework for human resources management in the Public
Service."
Modernization of the laws and structures governing human resources management
in the Public Service is being undertaken to enable the Public Service to become
a modern, people-centred institution which serves Canadians effectively in an
economy and society based on knowledge.
The current laws and rules which cover how people are managed in the Public
Service are neither flexible nor responsive enough to allow the Public Service
to compete for and retain the talent needed in today’s knowledge economy, and
to replace those planning to retire over the next decade.
The Public Service of Canada has evolved over the years to respond to
changing circumstances. In 1918 a three member Civil Service Commission was
established and made responsible for recruitment, organization, classification,
compensation, promotion and transfers of personnel.
The next significant reforms were in 1961 and 1967 with the update of the
Civil Service Act and the introduction of the Public Service Employment Act,
which governs appointments to the Public Service; the Public Service Staff
Relations Act which introduced collective bargaining, and amendments to the
Financial Administration Act which designated the Treasury Board as the
employer.
In the 1990s, PS2000 led to some changes to the Public Service Employment Act
and La Relève introduced changes within the existing laws and
structures. Throughout the decade, deputy ministers became increasingly engaged
in human resources management.
Recently, such concerns have been brought forward by:
- the Auditor General (Chapter 9, April 2000 Report and his
Capstone Report, 2001);
- the Fryer Committee (Advisory Committee on Labour Management
Relations in the Federal Public Service);
- ommittee of Senior Officials (COSO) subcommittees; and,
- the Strong Committee (Advisory Committee on Senior Level
Retention and Compensation - Third Report - December 2000).
Previously, calls for reform came from:
- Glassco (Royal Commission on Government Organization, 1962);
- Lambert (Royal Commission on Financial Management &
Accountability, 1979);
- D’Avignon (Special Committee on the Review of Personnel
Management and the Merit Principle, 1979);
- Public Service 2000 (1990);Hynna (Consultative Review of Staffing, 1996);
and,
- La Relève: A Commitment to Action (1997).
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RANALD ANDREW QUAIL
Date of birth: July 1939
Education:
B.Sc. (Civil Engineering), University of New Brunswick
Professional Experience:
June 1993 to present
Deputy Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Deputy Receiver
General of Canada
February 1993 - June 1993
Deputy Minister of Public Works
1990 - 1993
Associate Deputy Minister, Transport Canada and Commissioner, Canadian Coast
Guard
1985 to 1990
Assistant Deputy Minister, Marine, Transport Canada
1984 - 1985
Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada
1975 - 1984
Deputy Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada,
1962 - 1975
Numerous positions of increasing responsibility with the St. Lawrence Seaway
Authority, and Chairman, Great Lakes Pilotage Authority from 1972 - 1975
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