As you can imagine, there's this constant tension within the public service around the idea of innovation, ensuring that, obviously, the public service remains stable and strong during its delivery of all the statutory programs it's responsible for. At the same time, we see that constant push from the citizenry to ensure we continue to remain relevant to its needs.
Without a doubt, there is a concerted effort and focus within the public service to look at the rules structure we have in place to ensure it is allowing for the appropriate uptake of new technologies and new approaches. That was mentioned earlier in terms of outcomes-based approaches.
We have the deputy ministers task force on public sector innovation. Over 20 deputy ministers are a part of that committee. Attached to it is a multidisciplinary team of public servants that works horizontally across all the departments and agencies to help address the issues and speak to them. It's been looking at a couple of key areas of focus over the last year in more efficient HR practices, the adoption of new technologies like AI and blockchain; and then also importantly, the use of discretionary spending in grants and contributions to assure they are being used in the most efficient and effective ways.
Part of all that work is looking at all the rules-based frameworks to ensure on the one hand that the government is remaining an accountable steward of public funds, and on the other hand, ensure that as new technologies are coming to fruition within society, the government is taking up those approaches responsibly.