Evidence of meeting #20 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clients.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Each of your professionals would have an hourly rate or a rate affixed to each task that they perform?
4:05 p.m.
National Contract Manager, CanVet Vocational Rehabilitation Services, WCG International HR Consultants
It's actually a contracted rate, not just for each individual but across all of our contract.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
I spent 17 years selling my time and dividing each hour into six-minute segments.
Explain to me how you bill your client.
4:05 p.m.
National Contract Manager, CanVet Vocational Rehabilitation Services, WCG International HR Consultants
Sure.
We have a flat fee for assessment. If a client's going through a functional assessment or going through a “psycho-voc” assessment, there's a flat fee affixed to each of those phases, each of those pieces, depending on what the client needs. It's the Veterans Affairs case manager who approves each of those milestones.
There's a flat fee for creating the plan, and then an hourly fee for support while the client is working through the plan. It's very individualized, because it really depends on the client and what their need is at the time.
4:05 p.m.
National Contract Manager, CanVet Vocational Rehabilitation Services, WCG International HR Consultants
Of 2009.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Okay: April of 2009.
Can you tell us what your total billing to Veterans Affairs Canada has been, including these reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses? I'm interested in the total amount that you're being paid by Veterans Affairs over the life of your contract. Or is that proprietary?
4:05 p.m.
National Contract Manager, CanVet Vocational Rehabilitation Services, WCG International HR Consultants
No, we can tell you what we've billed to date.
We've billed just over $11 million to date for 1,942 clients. That's everything, including all assessments, counselling services, tuition, books, supplies, everything, all of the counselling. The total cost per client at this point is $5,664.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
So the $11 million that you've billed is since you started working with Veterans Affairs in 2009.
4:05 p.m.
National Contract Manager, CanVet Vocational Rehabilitation Services, WCG International HR Consultants
Correct.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
Can you give me a comparison year over year? Do you have that further broken down in terms of time periods?
4:05 p.m.
National Contract Manager, CanVet Vocational Rehabilitation Services, WCG International HR Consultants
I could certainly get it for you. I don't have it in front of me today. If you'd like me to get it for you, I could.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
That would be appreciated. I'd be most interested in hearing what the billings were in the first and most recent year of your mandate. Thank you very much.
Mr. Foster and Ms. Hurst, being in career transition services, it seems to me that there's a real growth opportunity for you with the employees of Veterans Affairs. There will be 500 of them looking for work over the next few years as a result of the downsizing. Have you had any discussions with the department towards offering your services to civil servants as opposed to clients of Veterans Affairs?
4:05 p.m.
Director of Program Delivery, Career Transition Services, Right Management
We've had no discussion.
4:05 p.m.
Operations Manager, Career Transition Services, Right Management
I know that one of the members of our civilian team recently discussed this with a member of, I would say, DND, in light of the recent announcement or recommendations on budget cutbacks and staffing levels. So a preliminary conversation has taken place. At this time, I don't know what the outcome was, but I do know that we have mentioned our services to DND.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
What about Veterans Affairs Canada? That's where there are a lot of jobs in play over the next little while.
4:10 p.m.
Operations Manager, Career Transition Services, Right Management
Absolutely. We're all sitting, waiting to find out. Based on my understanding of what's happening, there are just recommendations at this point and we won't know the extent of it until the budget is announced. They are very much aware of our services. We have been an interim service provider, so if this conversation is an appropriate one to have at that time, we'll have it.
4:10 p.m.
Director of Program Delivery, Career Transition Services, Right Management
It's not just about outplacement. We also do a lot of work with organizational development and change management. They're aware of our capabilities in all these areas.
4:10 p.m.
Operations Manager, Career Transition Services, Right Management
We want to assist the individuals who are affected but not necessarily losing their jobs, where there will be a change within the organization. So that's an opportunity, but we're waiting until there is more clarity on the recommendations.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON
Thanks very much.
As I understand, Right Management tries to find suitable employment for its clients. Can you tell me what your definition of suitable employment is?
4:10 p.m.
Director of Program Delivery, Career Transition Services, Right Management
I'll give you a definition similar to what's in our contract: i.e., suitable employment means employment that is reasonable in light of each individual's aspirations, qualifications, experience, education, and geographic area of residence.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON
Do you both agree to what that final outcome will be?
4:10 p.m.
Director of Program Delivery, Career Transition Services, Right Management
Basically, that's how we are judged, by the type of employment that the individual eventually obtains.
