Evidence of meeting #27 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was offices.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
According to information we've submitted to the committee, on page 12, you will see that...
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
It is on page 12.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Pardon me. You speak so softly it is at times difficult to hear you.
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
I'm rarely told that.
This table shows the percentage of employees who are visible minorities. Based on the 2001 labour market availability census information collected by Statistics Canada, visible minorities make up 12.5% of this category. In 2004, 13.2% of our employees identified themselves as visible minorities. In 2007, this percentage increased to 14.5% of all employees throughout the country.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
That was in 2007. What does this last figure, 12.5%, refer to?
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
That is the labour market availability. What we try to do is to, at the very least, match the labour market availability, and if possible exceed it.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
The second question I need to ask you is the following: to go from 13.2% to 14.5% appears to be a net improvement. Nonetheless, some people leave their jobs and may or may not be replaced by people who belong to visible minority groups. Do you have specific figures concerning turnover rates for these minority groups?
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
We can check to see if it's possible to obtain the turnover rates for visible minorities within our agency. I'm not sure we have that specific piece of information, but we can try and locate it.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Once visible minorities are hired, and if they decide to leave, is there an interview held before their departure to understand their reasons for leaving?
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
At the agency, this is not done systematically. It is quite possible that other offices decide to use that approach. With respect to human resources, we have just completed a pilot project that did just that, but the project did not focus solely on visible minorities. We looked at all of the employees who left human resources over the last year.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
I see. Do you use the information collected during these exit interviews to adjust the system?
9:50 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
Absolutely. We have assessed three groups of employees in human resources and employees who have left over the past year. We also conducted a survey of new employees who have just joined us and of employees who are eligible for retirement in two years, if they decide to take it. One aspect that came out of these surveys is that new employees felt they would have benefited from better orientation, more targeted to their jobs. We have now noted that. We will review our orientation program and see what needs to be done to respond to that comment. That is something simple enough to correct. If that means that an employee feels like he is part of the family earlier on, it is better for us.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Ms. Gauvin, since it was and continues to be a pilot project, could you send the guidelines as well as the results to the chair of the committee?
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
Of course.
May 6th, 2008 / 9:55 a.m.
Bloc
Christian Ouellet Bloc Brome—Missisquoi, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Ms. Gauvin, I would like to know what “HQ” stands for.
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
What page are you on?
9:55 a.m.
Bloc
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
It stands for “headquarters”.
9:55 a.m.
Bloc
9:55 a.m.
Assistant Commissioner, Human Resources Branch, Canada Revenue Agency
In Ottawa, essentially.
