Information & Ethics Committee on May 3rd, 2016

[Rémi Massé, Liberal, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

What measures are you implementing to deliver on these objectives and priorities?

[Mary Dawson]

I will ask Ms. Benoit to answer.

[Denise Benoit]

In her opening remarks, the commissioner noted that we are implementing a performance management framework. We have in fact established the main roles and priorities for our organization.

We have started gathering data, which is largely quantitative for now, but we hope to gather qualitative data. We have just started doing this, but once we have gathered data for over a year, we will be able to identify ways of improving performance, for instance, in response times when a member contacts our office.

We record the number of requests received, but we know we have to do more. We have to look at our record on meeting deadlines. My colleague has in fact established client-service standards.

We need to gather sufficient data over more than a year in order to produce a report. At our management meetings, we have started receiving reports and are able to identify trends and weaknesses.

We recognize the importance of performance management. In the initial years, the commissioner's office established a framework, policies, and procedures. After eight years, we know what we need to improve our performance.

[Rémi Massé, Liberal, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Very well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Blaine Calkins]

Mr. Bratina.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Thank you.

What's the salary range of your employees, not the executives, but the 49 or so. Where would they be?

[Mary Dawson]

I will let you answer once again, Ms. Benoit.

[Denise Benoit]

The largest group that we have are the advisers, the analysts. In that group, the salary range is from $72,000 to $87,000.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Have there been any fair market value reviews on those jobs? They could be lower, they could be higher. What's that process?

[Denise Benoit]

We have a different classification structure. We use a company, Hay, which is a well-known company.

It's been a number of years now where we've done a really thorough study, but when we compare with positions with similar responsibilities in the public service we know that we're still within the range because we're able to attract qualified candidates when we post employment.

When it comes to economic increases, of course, we monitor what is being negotiated in Parliament by the House of Commons, and this is what the commissioner will usually give because all our employees are non-represented, so whenever there is something negotiated in Parliament that is the economic increase that is given to our employees.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Is there a standard annual increase or cost-of-living increase?

[Denise Benoit]

Exactly. The economic increase, as I said, is usually based on what is being negotiated in the public service or in Parliament.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

You haven't done a review recently, but are you confident that you're paying in the correct range?

[Denise Benoit]

We are, just because, as I said, we're able to attract good candidates when we post employment opportunities.

[Bob Bratina, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

And where would I send my...? No, I'm only kidding.

Thank you.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, Blaine Calkins]

We'll accept that as your resignation, Bob. It's too bad; we're starting to get to like you.

Just to follow up on Bob's question, if I may, the number you quoted, Madame Benoit, was that the total compensation package for employees? Does that include pay and benefits, or is that just pay?

[Denise Benoit]

That's pay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Blaine Calkins]

Okay. Thank you.

We'll now move to Monsieur Jeneroux, please. We'll start the five-minute round.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Thank you for being here again with us.

just have one comment and then one question, and if we can afford time back to the committee, that would be wonderful.

We just had, as you saw, the Privacy Commissioner here in front of us. He provided, as part of his annual report, a breakdown of how much time it takes to do investigations, some that he's declined to investigate, and some where they have initiated from, and so on and so forth.

I don't see that in your annual report. This is again just my comment. It would be nice to know some of that. I recognize they're all different in terms of each instance; however, so are his, and in his he provided an average breakdown of that. It would be nice to see that in the upcoming, highly anticipated annual report from your office.

[Mary Dawson]

I can give you some figures right now.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Sure, we don't have a great amount of time, but go for it.

[Mary Dawson]

Basically we have two kinds of files. We have files that we open up and look at, and then for other files we proceed with a full-fledged investigation or examination.

With respect to the files that we look at and don't proceed with, our average is 47 days. For the ones that we have to proceed with officially and give a report, it's 264 days. The medians there are 15 and 264.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Okay. Wonderful.

Is that coming from a public document, or is that internal?

[Mary Dawson]

No, it isn't a public document at the moment.