Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As an MLA, we get concerns from constituents on many topics. One concern I’ve had raised recently by constituents is in the matter of trying to advance in the workplace or be direct appointed, if that’s a policy that’s applicable to them. It seems that there is information about professional development, about applying for and successfully obtaining a job that they want that is not available to them.
I would like to ask the new Minister of Human Resources if the method or policy of direct appointments is one that is still employed by this government on a large scale or on any scale. Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the various departments still go forward with direct appointments. Direct appointments are made by Cabinet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, could the Minister outline for us briefly what is the purpose of direct appointments? We had a Minister’s statement on Aboriginal inclusion just recently in this House.
I would like to ask the Minister, for the most part, what is the purpose of the direct appointment policy? Thank you.
Direct appointments are used often when a competitive process will not give better results than somebody that we have in the system that is eligible for direct appointment. Also, Mr. Speaker, direct appointments can be used for the advancement of an Aboriginal candidate that would be qualified that would be a front runner for a competitive process. So then we’d skip through the competitive process and go to a direct appointment for advancement purposes. Thank you.
How does the potential or possibility of a direct appointment come to the attention of Cabinet? What is the process for it getting there? What instigates it? Does it take a director, a deputy minister; do the Ministers themselves hear of opportunities for direct appointments? What is it that triggers the review of a direct appointment? Thank you.
Direct appointments are initiated by departments. So if the departments have a need in a specific area where they feel that fulfilling that position with a direct appointment, usually again from internal resources, sometimes from individuals in other departments and sometimes bringing someone else in that is new. The departments initiate the direct appointment. They are vetted through various deputy ministers within the government and from the deputy minister, then it’s presented to Cabinet who have the appropriate Minister. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister if an employee themselves can instigate a direct appointment. Can they express interest in a position and bring it to the attention of their superiors that they would like to be considered for a direct appointment to a specific job opening? Thank you.
I do not believe any of the departments would be closed to that idea. I think that if there’s a good performing individual in the system that sees there’s an advancement opportunity within their department or other departments and sees there’s going to be a competitive process or a job that has become vacant and they have shown interest in it, I believe that we would facilitate people that may be interested in the position, for a direct appointment by their own request. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Member for Range Lake, Mr. Beaulieu.
