Evidence of meeting #172 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was military.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Kyle Peterson Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Okay. We'll have to maybe figure that out ourselves if we can. It seems to me that's exactly the kind of tool we might need. It's a shame we're not using it, for whatever reason. There might be a good explanation.
Mr. Grant, you mentioned the term “entitled” to a public service job. Is that a communications failing by VAC or by DND? Is there way to rationalize expectations when someone is leaving the service?
As an Individual
I think that's what it was like back in 2015. We were talking about it in the ship and I'm sure they were talking about it at the water coolers in the armoury. It is complex, so there were misunderstandings. Some people thought they were going to get a public service job just handed to them, but no, they have to meet the essential qualifications of the job.
We want to make it easy for.... I'll stop there.
As an Individual
I just think that this veteran audience needs help. It's a totally different culture. They don't understand the paradigm of how the public service hiring system works. You've heard some horror stories of folks being told by hiring managers that they weren't suitable for the job because they mixed up crisis communications with emergency communications. Those things happen quite a bit and it's very disheartening. The word gets out on Facebook and it gets out amongst the community and it creates a negative expectation.
Liberal
Kyle Peterson Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Yes, we've heard that.
Mr. Ticknor, when were you released?
Sergeant-at-Arms, Chairman of Voluntary Resources and Executive Committee Member, Branch 350, Royal Canadian Legion
It was November 20, 2014.
Liberal
Kyle Peterson Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
What was your expectation when you left, just as an example? How has that process played out?
Sergeant-at-Arms, Chairman of Voluntary Resources and Executive Committee Member, Branch 350, Royal Canadian Legion
I thought my skills would be directly transferable. On a personal note, to get into it, since you're asking—
Sergeant-at-Arms, Chairman of Voluntary Resources and Executive Committee Member, Branch 350, Royal Canadian Legion
I just found out on Friday that the individual who was in charge of releasing me from the Canadian Armed Forces was going through an epicentre of PTSD during the time I served under his chain of command. His releasing me was based on his faulty medical judgment of PTSD. That's another issue that can be addressed in reference to my personal file.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
I just want to check and see whether or not we have Mr. Corcoz on teleconference.
We will go with your opening statement, Mr. Corcoz.
Colleagues, I'll interrupt the interventions.
Please go ahead.
Florin Corcoz As an Individual
Good evening, everyone.
My name is Florin Corcoz. I am a veteran of the Canadian Forces, a former naval engineer.
I joined the Canadian Forces in January 2010, and I was voluntarily released in October 2013 from the full-time position, and in May 2014 from the reserve, a part-time position.
I am here to explain my experience in applying for job opportunities within the public service. I am a professional engineer with a licence in Ontario and Alberta. I received my bachelor's degree from a Romanian university. Additionally, I graduated with an M.B.A. from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in May 2017. Emory University is considered one of the top 20 American business schools.
I applied for 10 jobs open to the public and to nine internal jobs. The list of jobs can be seen in the addendum to the memo I submitted this morning. I applied for jobs that required managerial skills, such as senior project manager, project manager, change manager and director. From a total of 20 jobs, I was able to have two written exams, but I didn't pass to the next level, an interview.
Additionally, I had some supplementary questions for a job as a regional regulatory compliance manager opportunity from the hiring manager, but I wasn't selected for an interview.
I passed the IT field test related to HR, to the next level of every single application, receiving the message that my application had been retained. I would be contacted directly if I were to be further assessed.
None of this could have been possible without help from a veterans adviser, Jen, who helped me a lot in updating my resumé and sharpening my interview skills.
Also, I was able to have a job interview for a DND engineering position in the Toronto area, but I applied by sending my resumé to an email address. My military experience didn't seem to have any impact and the focus of the interview was on my civilian experience only.
In conclusion, military experience and/or training received in the military doesn't seem to be a helpful selection criterion for the hiring manager, unless you are medically released. I say “medically released” because this is another type of application for jobs in the public service.
That is my statement.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, gentlemen here in Ottawa and Mr. Corcoz in Windsor.
Welcome to the House of Commons, Mr. Corcoz, and on behalf of all Canadians, thank you for your duty in achieving what we are today.
I'd like to begin with you, Mr. Grant. Earlier you said that there was a lot of disappointment among veterans when they apply for the government program designed to give them access to the public service. Expectations are very high and, of course, there are disappointments. The program may generate more disappointment and frustration than assistance.
Should we, in your opinion, tell people right from the outset that there are no guarantees with that program?
As an Individual
I agree with that, sir.
I would say that there is less disappointment now. There is much more information, and there are more resources. In 2015, when the new law came into effect, no one understood it. There were a lot of disappointments and a lot of people who did not get through the public service hiring process successfully. Those people were not happy.
Now, even the Canadian Armed Forces have a lot of public servants who provide information sessions. There are also information sessions given by Veterans Affairs Canada, resources on the Canadian Armed Forces website and that of Veterans Affairs Canada. The program is much better understood now.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
First of all, I'd like to thank you for the quality of your French, which I greatly appreciate.
As an Individual
I am from Montreal, sir, from the West Island, the anglophone suburbs.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
So you are a Quebecker—we are very proud—and a great Canadian also.
Mr. Grant, do you think we should think about a private sector solution also? Of course, the Canadian government has control over the hiring of its employees, but do you think we should also develop incentive programs for private sector employers, to encourage them to hire veterans?
As an Individual
Yes.
In my opinion, this would be part of the second phase of the Veterans in the Public Service Unit. Veterans Affairs Canada has a plan, a strategy with an action plan that includes private sector hiring.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
We probably would not be in favour of providing subsidies or things of that nature, but what would you think about a basic information data bank where veterans could enter their names? The government could guide people and help them to find jobs in private enterprise. As for private companies, they would, of course, have access to that bank. I'm not talking about subsidizing jobs, but about helping, guiding both veterans and private companies, to allow them to get in touch. What do you think of that idea?
As an Individual
I agree with that idea. There are resources for veterans who want to find a private sector job, but I am not an expert on that.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Is this something you hear veterans say—that they are quite happy to work in the public service, but would probably be just as pleased to work in the private sector?
As an Individual
In my opinion, the public service is incredible: good jobs, good salaries, and another pension. There are also holidays. Today, in calculating holidays, the public service takes time served as a military member into account. So there are a lot of advantages to working in the public service. Personally, I would say to every veteran to come and work for the public service, because we need their experience and leadership qualities. I am all for the public service.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
That is what I thought I had understood, and that is very good. We will always need them, all countries need an excellent public service. In Canada, we are very pleased to have one.
Gentlemen, may I ask you this, based on your experience? Is it okay for you if you go to the public sector, or would you like to also go to the private sector? If you have the same opportunities, the same chance to go to the public sector or the private sector, what do you think will be good for you?