Response to parliamentary committees and external audits

Summary

In the spring of 2018, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) released a performance audit. The audit focused on the Indigenous Employment and Skills Strategy and the Skills and Partnership Fund. It examined whether the department managed these programs to increase the number of Indigenous people getting jobs and staying employed. Specifically, the OAG analyzed the department’s actions to implement, monitor, report on, and improve the programs. On 29 October 2018, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts held a hearing on this audit, and made 9 recommendations to Employment and Social Development Canada.

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Government response and corrective actions

The government accepted these recommendations. Working closely with Indigenous partners, the department took steps to enhance skills training programs for Indigenous peoples.

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Summary

The February 2019 report, presents data and research on families who have experienced the death of a child. It describes the range of programs and services that provide supports. It goes on to explore witness testimony identifying gaps between the supports available for grieving families and their actual needs. The committee heard that parents and families need more than the system presently provides. The committee made 7 recommendations to the department.

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Government response and corrective actions

The government welcomed the recommendations, and provided a response, organized under the following 3 themes:

1. Enhancing information and services for grieving families in a compassionate way
2. Reducing financial hardships and supporting flexible return-to-work for parents who have suffered the loss of a child
3. Conducting policy analysis regarding supports for parents who have suffered the loss of a child

The government recognized that shared, federal, provincial/territorial responsibilities in these areas can compound the difficulties faced by grieving. The government will continue to work with provinces, territories and other partners to identify ways to improve supports for grieving families.

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Summary

During its May 2019 study, the committee learned that there are many supports for apprentices, tradespeople and industry employers. However, the committee heard testimony that more needs to be done to address the shortages of labour in the construction industry. This is particularly important in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The committee also heard that labour shortages in this region are driven in great part by a retiring workforce and a growing demand in the construction industry. Other factors are also affecting the supply of workers. These include a lack of awareness about the skilled trades as a viable career option and difficulties accessing existing supports. As well, there are economic barriers to labour mobility. Through its study, the committee learned that the solutions to addressing labour shortages are not simple. They will require an approach with many facets. They will also require the collaboration of various levels of government and industry stakeholders. In its May 2019 report, the committee made 8 recommendations to the government.

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Government response and corrective actions

The government welcomed the recommendations. It recognized the need to apply solutions with many facets to address the challenges outlined in the report. It also recognized the need to collaborate with various levels of government and industry stakeholders. The government is taking steps to improve the programs and supports it offers to apprentices, tradespeople and industry employers.

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Summary

The March 2019 report presents new data and research on episodic disability. It outlines the range of programs and legislation that provide supports. It explores witness testimonies that speak to the need to expand the understanding of episodic disability, and that this understanding must be reflected in federal government programs, policies, services and laws to include episodic experiences. Witness testimonies also demonstrated the desire of people with episodic disabilities to remain active and productive in the labour force. They also showed that people with episodic disabilities need more support. This may include income support during periods when their disability prevents them from working. The committee made 11 recommendations to the department.

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Government response and corrective actions

The government of Canada is committed to building an inclusive, accessible society. A society that empowers all Canadians to fully participate and contribute in their communities. The government agrees that it is time to take action to improve the lives of Canadians with disabilities, including episodic disabilities. The government addressed the committee’s recommendations under 3 theme areas:

1. Supporting labour force attachment.
2. Improving financial security.
3. Working with provincial and territorial governments.

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Summary

When escaping violence, women and children need access to safe housing and appropriate support services. However, shelters and transition houses across Canada do not have enough beds or services to meet demand. Levels of service provided across the country differ. The lack of services may force some women and children to return to, or remain in, violent situations. Women and children affected by violence may face further challenges when they leave shelters and transition houses. These challenges include long waiting times for, and difficulty accessing, transitional housing, and a lack of safe and affordable permanent housing. In its May 2019 report, the committee made 20 recommendations to government, with the main goals of:

• Addressing the gap between supply of and demand for space in shelters and transition houses serving women and children.
• Ensuring that women and children experiencing violence have access to shelters and transition houses services that meet their specific needs. The goal is also to ensure these services are available to them whether they live in urban, rural or remote communities. It is also important that these services be available in comparable levels across Canada, including to Indigenous women.
• Increasing women’s access to safe and affordable housing and appropriate supports.

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Government response and corrective actions

Federal, provincial and territorial governments share responsibility for housing, homelessness, preventing and addressing gender-based violence, and criminal justice. The federal government is committed to working with provinces and territories to address gender-based violence. It has been proactive in taking action to support shelters and transition houses serving women and families affected by violence. In its response, the government highlights work undertaken in line with the 4 theme areas identified in the committee’s report.

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Summary

This audit focused on whether Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and other departments provided clients with accessible and timely call centre services. It examined whether these departments reported on their call centre performance in a way that was relevant to clients. It also examined if this reporting was transparent, consistent, and verified to confirm accuracy. ESDC’s call centres audited were those that support the Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security programs.

The audit concluded that not all of the departments audited provided callers with accessible and timely call centre services. Another conclusion was that call centres did not set service standards that were relevant to clients. In addition, they did not measure and report on performance against service standards in transparent and consistent ways. As well, they did not base this measuring and reporting on data that was verified for accuracy. 2 recommendations were aimed at ESDC.

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Government response and corrective actions

The department agreed with the recommendations addressed to ESDC. It indicated that technology and funding limit its current ability to manage and improve access to a call centre agent. It outlined that most callers accessing the self-service telephone menu resolve their issues without speaking to an agent. The department agreed to continue setting service standards that are relevant to clients. It also agreed to enhance the publishing of its call centre service standards and performance results.

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Summary

The objectives of the audit were:

1. To identify the frequency of cases where credentials could not be validated with academic institutions or professional associations
2. To identify how credentials are validated for appointments. It also tried to determine whether additional guidance or support is needed when establishing an appropriate credential validation approach

This audit examined a sample of 278 external appointments made between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016. The sample was taken across 15 departments and agencies, including Employment and Social Development. It spanned 20 occupations with responsibilities related to the health, safety or security of Canadians. It focussed on occupational groups where the nature of the education or certification requirements are directly linked to the job specialization. These groups included nurses, doctors, engineers, dentists, pilots and air traffic controllers.

The audit found that sub-delegated managers used a range of practices when reviewing credentials of persons being appointed. The auditors validated the appointees’ credentials directly with academic institutions and professional associations. They confirmed the credentials were valid in all of the 269 appointments for which they could reach a conclusion.

Findings also revealed that candidates and hiring managers misunderstand the requirement to obtain proof of Canadian equivalency for foreign credentials. A Canadian equivalency was not obtained in 12 out of the 24 (50%) appointments for which it was required. There were no recommendations for ESDC. 1 recommendation was addressed to the Public Service Commission.

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