Finance committee  I unfortunately don't have the current average, but I can provide that information in writing to the committee. The 90 days will provide for more timely decisions, as there has been some concern about the length of time that the appeals processes have taken.

Finance committee  The use of “appointment” indicates Parliament's intention to ensure the independence of decision-makers from government. The amendments would bring part II of the code in line with part III of the code in terms of labour standards. Under part III, the wage recovery referees are

Finance committee  The amendments are intended to address issues of timeliness and efficiency. A 90-day timeframe for a decision is seen as reasonable and is in keeping with labour code practices of other tribunals. There isn't a way to arbitrarily decide whether or not it's a win. I believe the mi

Finance committee  Current officers who were designated will continue to work in health and safety but will not hear appeals.

Finance committee  They were designated in the past as well, in the same manner, by the minister. The appointments now will allow the minister to make outside appointments. In fact, that wasn't restricted before. This is just bringing it into line with the same language that applies to part III of

Finance committee  The people will not remain in those positions. Public servants who are currently doing this as appeals officers will not continue to do that job. The system will change so that these officers will be appointed. They will be outside experts. It will affect three to five people.

Finance committee  Yes. The expectation is that they will be absorbed into the department, into the labour program, in similar positions.

Finance committee  It's not 5,000. I'm sorry, I don't have that number. What I have is that this will reduce the number of FTEs by between three and five people. So it's a very small number.

Finance committee  They will be appeals officers appointed by the minister. It's a common practice in the labour program to have outside experts hear appeals. It's an arm's-length relationship. They're not from the government side, the employer side, or the employee side.

Finance committee  Yes. Just to be clear, it will affect three to five people. I understood you to be asking, initially, how many people there are in total in terms of health and safety appeals officers.

Finance committee  This change will affect three to five people, depending on the number of appeals that come in.

Finance committee  I don't know the answer to that question. I'll have to get back to you on that.

Finance committee  That's right. We'll do that rather than designating current public servants who are doing the work now.

Finance committee  Again, we're not setting aside public servants. They will be integrated into the program. The appeals officers will only be engaged when there is an appeal to be heard. They won't be on staff all the time. Savings are expected from this measure, rather than expenditures.

Finance committee  That's correct.