Let me start by acknowledging, as I have time and time again, that it is totally unacceptable for the individuals who are in this backlog to continue to be in that backlog. That's why we have implemented the measures that we have to deal with that, because again, no one should go without pay for work performed.
There are 300,000 public service employees getting paid every two weeks. Through Phoenix, we have the regular payroll system working. Will there be challenges? There will always be challenges. I said that to you at the outset. You will never have a payroll system of this magnitude where you won't face challenges, but nothing of the magnitude we're experiencing now, and that's why we have taken all the measures that we've taken: to deal with the issues we're dealing with until we get to a steady state, whatever that steady state will be.
From my perspective, it's going to be really important that we do everything we can to make sure there are no further hardships experienced by public service employees as a result of Phoenix. That's why Treasury Board has put in place a process to help those employees and to respond positively to those employees who come forward suggesting that they've incurred additional interest charges or that they've had other problems as a result of Phoenix.
We have put a lot of measures in place. We will do whatever we have to do to fix the system. Yes, I'm the minister responsible and I take this personally. It is really important from my perspective that employees out there who work so hard get compensated for the work performed.