Government Operations committee  Would I call it a crisis? I think if it's not handled it will be a crisis. That's the way I'll deal with that question. I think there are some.... I'm going to be careful about how I respond.

Government Operations committee  I want to be careful about this. I will say it's a tough spot for someone—the witness you mentioned, in her position—to come to tell you the house is falling down. It's a tough position to be in. The house isn't falling down, I would also say, and I do think the federal public s

Government Operations committee  They do, absolutely, but I also think I would be very careful of being too complacent in the face of some of that excellent work. I do think that if actions aren't taken more quickly to fix some of those things we talked about—speed to hire, the work environment, better learning

Government Operations committee  You mentioned a number of things that I think are important. Throughout the federal public service there are pockets of excellence where really interesting things are happening and where mentoring programs are going on. I know there are, and it just strikes me that you haven't

Government Operations committee  Absolutely.

Government Operations committee  What's interesting, Madam Bourgeois, is that what happened happens a lot to organizations. Studies get published and get shelved. Only those who authored them remember them. So I remember that study and raise it quite often, because I think it is important. In fact, I have a cop

Government Operations committee  I can't answer that, I'm sorry. I have no idea. I assume it's checks, rechecks, committees. I have no idea what goes on behind closed doors, and, quite frankly, I haven't wanted to know.

Government Operations committee  I think there are several things this committee can influence and that it has the power to change; that is one. I would say the other one is to really work on developing a brand for the federal public service. Alberta has a tag line; it's “Alberta's Best is Hiring”. I like that a

Government Operations committee  I haven't seen much of it. I'm originally from a very small town in New Brunswick—Woodstock is the name of the place, which I always say wherever I am—and I know that government jobs, at all levels, are valued there. They're solid. They're stable. They're well paid, for the reg

Government Operations committee  It was courting.

Government Operations committee  Absolutely. Again, Monster.com is interesting, because, as you know, they're one of the biggest job boards in the world. They told us the five things job seekers desperately want to hear are, and I'm going to read this: Fewer words in job descriptions—be more concise. Summar

Government Operations committee  The best organizations start with, “What's the business, so where are we going?” What's the business of government? Each department would do that as well. It would roll down. Our business is providing...well, name it. The CRA's business is collecting revenue for the future well

Government Operations committee  A pleasure.

Government Operations committee  My sympathies.

Government Operations committee  In seeing that testimony, I didn't think that was a very solid indicator. It's good to know people are applying, but again, they could be applying the shotgun approach I mentioned earlier. My question would be—and my question was when I saw it—who is applying and what skills an