Breaking ‘knowledge barrier’: the renewal of human sciences
When the first plane broke the sound barrier in 1947, scientists learned something surprising: the controls didn’t work as expected. Flying at the speed of sound required new understanding, a new approach to aerodynamic design and controls. Failure to adjust to the supersonic speed paradigm would lead to serious trouble, loss of control and potential […]
Social policy in the 21st Century
REGINA-LUMSDEN-LAKE CENTRE, SASK.–Governments must address at least two basic components. One is fiscal and the other is social. The challenge is to balance these two competing components. In this regard, the fiscal responsibilities must not be so conservative as to fail to address the social needs of our families and our communities nor should the […]
Manley proposes Minister of Lifelong Learning
Having worked since 1993 to bring the federal government back from the brink of financial and political crisis, we are now working to restore this level of government to its proper place in Confederation. While that proper place does not include running the elementary and high schools, the colleges and the universities, it does include […]
Welcome to Canada! Leave your training at the door
“To succeed in the global knowledge-based economy a country must be capable of producing, attracting and retaining a critical mass of well-educated and appropriately trained people”. So says the Government of Canada’s Innovation and Learning Strategy. Yet, the reality is a far cry from the lofty goal stated by the federal government as young Canadians […]
Don’t play politics with the lives of public employees
Canada has been blessed with a competent and professional public service, but there is much work to be done from the political level to appreciate and support the thousands who administer public affairs. My experience with reviewing and improving Bill C-25 at the Government Operations and Estimates Committee, reminded me of so many problem issues, […]
Robillard: C-25 represents first major reform of legislative framework governing people management in 35 years
Over the last decade, we have seen a profound evolution in what Canadians expect from all levels of government. Citizens are rightfully demanding greater transparency, more open access to decision-makers as well as faster and more cost-effective services. At the same time, the environment in which public policy is developed is becoming increasingly complex. There […]
Large gaps in skilled labour, says HRDC Minister Stewart
Canada’s Baby-Boomers are retiring and leaving behind large gaps in skilled-labour pools that urgently need to be filled, says Canada’s Human Resources Minister. “Employers — particularly small business — are continually reporting to us that the lack of skilled employees is one of their most significant problems,” said federal Human Resources Minister Jane Stewart (Brant, […]
Creating a public service for the 21st Century
The “performance pay” given to senior executives has garnered headlines across the country. Information that I obtained through Access to Information demonstrated that across the federal government, 96 per cent of all senior bureaucrats received bonuses for their work. This is when we read about scandals every other day from the Radwanski affair to the […]
