Human Resources Committee on Nov. 19th, 2013

[Kin Choi]

Eighty per cent—

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Because many times there's a hazard identified, right?

[Kin Choi]

There are times when our officers will deal with ones where they'll go out and say, “But I've noticed this.” I think that's what you're driving at—

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Yes.

[Kin Choi]

That's precisely why we're trying to make these changes.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

There will be a recommendation made.

[Kin Choi]

Yes, and it's working with—

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

So there's still merit in that complaint, I would think.

[Kin Choi]

But I think, sir, that it continues to be what we're going to be able to do. In fact, we're hoping that this will free us up to do more of that type of work, which is prevention. I think we get ourselves behind the eight ball when we're asked to come in when there's a dispute, when there's a refusal. That's a sign that there's something else going on.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Could it be miscommunication? You're asking a worker to go into a particular area and perform a particular function, but the employer doesn't really explain the whole realm of the duty or the whole realm of the job. There may be a miscommunication or a lack of communication, so they think the worst and they say, “I'm going to refuse to take on that job.” Is that common?

[Kin Choi]

Well, I don't know if we have statistics on that, Mr. Cuzner, but I think that—

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

That may be a worthwhile statistic, because as Ms. Sims said, the detail in the statistics I think would be of help.

[Kin Choi]

In our experience, from what we've seen and what we've heard from our officers, they're spending a lot of time in that type of process and they're not getting the time they need to do the proactive work. I don't think it's in conflict with what you're trying to promote or suggest.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Yes.

[Kin Choi]

I think we're actually on the same page, in that we want to have more time to do more prevention work—

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

More time to do more prevention? How many officers do you have now?

[Kin Choi]

We have about 80 across the country.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

That's down from 150 how long ago?

[Kin Choi]

I don't think it's down from 150. I think we've been at this rate.... We've averaged about 80. I've been in the program for a couple of years now. We've averaged—

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

A couple of years, but it's the last eight years in particular.

[Kin Choi]

If I could answer, I think the average is about 80 over the last five years.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Okay, because my understanding is that there was a considerable cutback in the number of officers. There's been a decline over the last number of years, and it's gone down from about 150 to about 85.

[Kin Choi]

I can tell you that's not the case, respectfully. I think there have been some expressions of that from various quarters. We've had our rates of attrition as well, and as you know—

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Could you supply the committee with just a sort of chronology?

[Kin Choi]

Certainly. Yes, we can do that.