Debates of October 13, 2005 (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ll refer to my concerns I raised yesterday and even a year ago in this House. It’s about this government and its management in achieving the energy targets that I’ve spoken about so passionately. With respect to the DMs and their overall performance and management of their departments in this new energy crisis that grips us all, will the Premier look at developing and attaching targets and criteria that will link the management bonuses that each department receives to how they deal with this energy crisis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and my question is to the Premier of this House.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 109-15(4): Linking Energy Management Targets To Deputy Minister Performance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Member for the question. I was beginning to feel like the Maytag repairman.

---Laughter

Aw.

Mr. Speaker, our deputy ministers’ performances are measured each year. It’s measured against the objectives that the government sets. I enter into a management letter with them. Energy conservation is certainly one of our goals as a government and, yes, deputy ministers’ performances will be based on that as one of the goals they’ll be measured against. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 109-15(4): Linking Energy Management Targets To Deputy Minister Performance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Premier, also known as the Maytag repairman, be willing to make these requirements and management criteria available to all Members of this House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 109-15(4): Linking Energy Management Targets To Deputy Minister Performance

Mr. Speaker, no, I don’t want to make those available or those public. Those are between the deputy ministers, the Ministers and myself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 109-15(4): Linking Energy Management Targets To Deputy Minister Performance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well I can appreciate the importance and the sensitivity of individual contracts, but the general broad brush scope of what a DM’s criteria of why they get their bonuses should be part of the management of this overall House. So, Mr. Speaker, I ask once again, would the Premier be willing to show us the type of targets and defining guidelines he’s going to have, to ensure that we have strong management and feel comfort with the crisis that we’re in, that we’re being led by good leaders in each department? Would he make those available to Members? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 109-15(4): Linking Energy Management Targets To Deputy Minister Performance

Mr. Speaker, when we set out as the 15th Legislative Assembly, we set a number of strategic goals. The deputy ministers and Ministers, and all of us in fact, are measured against those goals that we set. We all know what they are. In terms of the specific goals, the specific criteria with each deputy minister, a lot of that is personal, and I think it’s something that we have to keep between the deputy ministers, Ministers and ourselves. We all have the broad goals in our strategic plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 109-15(4): Linking Energy Management Targets To Deputy Minister Performance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the goals are important factors to judge against, but unfortunately those goals were measured two years ago when oil was at 30-some dollars a barrel. It was $64 a barrel yesterday. So recognizing times have changed and contracts need to be adjusted to reflect those things, it’s important. I take this as a serious enough issue that we should be involved in what are some of the criteria that these DMs are being judged against so they get their bonuses, because I’d like to see this government reward good behaviour and not reward less good behaviour. So I would like to know what some of the requirements are. I think everyone would feel good. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 109-15(4): Linking Energy Management Targets To Deputy Minister Performance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can assure the Members that all of the deputy ministers will be measured on a number of goals that we set. They are different in different cases, but I can assure Members that all of them will be measured on what they do in helping us to achieve our targets on energy conservation measures. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.