Just for clarification, Mr. Todd. Is this including early retirement packages?
Debates of Feb. 5th, 1997
Topics
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Yes, the retirement packages are the same thing. If someone goes into retirement, early retirement or mandatory retirement, whatever it is, a department or Minister chooses to rehire them, as long as they meet the criteria set up in the code of conduct and ethics, under the Human Resource Manual, then they are perfectly free to. We can not deny them the ability to earn a living.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regards to the individuals who have been hired back and who are former employees of the government, and then hired back either through the Executive or through department, on a casual basis, do you have information in regards to the number of people who have been hired back in that category?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Mr. Chairman, like I said to his previous question, we do not track it. There is no requirement unless someone can substantiate the reason as to why we should track it. There is no requirement at this time to track it. I would suggest to my colleague that should we enter into a contract with a former civil servant, it will be in the contract report that we present to this House on an ongoing basis. We will be looking there as to who is doing what. Like I said civil servant A, who is no longer with us, is back doing B, it will be reported in C. There is no requirement for it.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Mr. Chairman. Could you give us a rough estimate of what these compensation packages cost an average of what the payout is when an individual may leave and how much does he get as part of the package? Say somebody got 10 years or 20 years.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
If you want, the severance package arrangements are set out in the Manager's Handbook, Collective Agreement, which Mr. Voytilla is a public document. I could certainly provide my colleague with a copy of the Manager's Handbook and Collective Agreement. I would not want to speculate today whether civil servant "A" gets this or civil servant "B" gets that. I can tell you, it is clear. Compensation in the severance package is based upon, to a considerable degree, previous service, time they have been in the civil servant's position they have, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the whole intention of the question is that, you know, on one hand we are, there are civil servants out there who have been laid off, left the government and basically took their package and looking for other employment but the whole practice that we have been following for the two years is to control the deficit and downsize the government. With this practice, on one hand we are told we are laying off 60 people, but on the other hand we are being told well, the 60 people got laid off but we hired back 30 on a casual basis. Is that the case?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
You know, if you look at this thing superficially, it may appear as Mr. Krutko has indicated as if it is double dipping. The fact of the matter - it is not. Let us be clear. It is not! With all due respect it is not. The policy is in place for severance packages. We can not deny a former employee the ability to earn a living, provided he meets the criteria set in the code of conduct and ethics in the Human Resource Manual.
I do not know how many former civil servants who have had severance packages are currently working for the government. But if I had to, and I would qualify it by saying guess, I would think it is a very small group of people. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Vince Steen
Thank you, Mr. Todd. I have Directorate. Total operations and maintenance. $21,146,000. Mr. Erasmus.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is there a waiting period people have to wait after they receive a severance package, before the government will rehire them?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
If somebody is laid off or takes a severance package, there is no waiting period for them to be rehired. That is what Mr. Voytilla indicates to me. There is no waiting period for them to be rehired.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Directorate. Mr. Erasmus.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I seem to recall there used to be a waiting period when someone was given some kind of layoff or severance package. Was there one before, a waiting period?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Todd.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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John Todd Keewatin Central
Well everybody who gets laid off gets a severance package. That is the first thing. It depends on what degree, depending upon the job, tenure and all the rest of the stuff. I am advised by Mr. Voytilla, that there is no waiting period if you wish to be rehired, if you applied for a job and have the qualifications and got recruited. Thank you.
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Under the Directorate, Mr. Erasmus.
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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Yes, I would like to thank the Minister for confirming that there is no waiting period. But was there a waiting period in the past that has been removed? Thank you.
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.