For immediate release
Miramichi, New Brunswick, January 16, 2013 — Tilly O’Neill-Gordon, Member of Parliament for Miramichi, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, announced today that the Government of Canada has purchased land for the permanent facility for the Public Service Pay Centre in Miramichi, and has officially launched a Request for Qualification process for the construction of the new facility.
“The top priority of our Government is creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity, while we continue to work towards a balanced budget,” said Minister Ambrose. “The modernization of the pay administration system is an essential part of our Government’s commitment to cutting unnecessary costs and fostering economic growth while helping to create hundreds of jobs in Miramichi.”
The site, located at 24 Church Street, was purchased from the Miramichi Agricultural Exhibition Association on December 13, 2012. The purchase of the property was undertaken via a fair and transparent process in accordance with federal standards and policies.
“Our Government is focused on boosting economic growth and job creation. That’s why we are pleased to announce the acquisition of land for the future Public Service Pay Centre. This facility will house 550 public service employees here in Miramichi,” said MP O’Neill-Gordon.
An invitation to submit a response to a Request for Qualification for the construction of the new office facility to be built on the newly purchased land was published today. The construction of the new facility and the presence of the Public Service Pay Centre in Miramichi will create sustainable employment in the area and will have a positive impact on the residents, businesses, and regional economy as a whole.
On August 19, 2010, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that the Government of Canada is modernizing its 40-year-old pay system and consolidating pay administration services for public servants into a single pay centre located in Miramichi. The consolidation of pay services will create 550 public service jobs by 2015-16 and will generate approximately $78 million in annual savings starting in 2016-17.
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As part of the Harper Government’s overall initiative to increase the effectiveness of public service operations and eliminate unnecessary costs, Public Works and Government Services Canada is consolidating pay administration services for public servants into a single pay centre located in Miramichi, New Brunswick.
The pay services of 56 departments using the Government of Canada Human Resources Management System (PeopleSoft) are being gradually transferred over a four-year period that started in May 2012. The initiative, which also consists of replacing the government’s outdated, 40-year-old pay system with more efficient and modern technology, will generate $78 million in annual savings starting in 2016-17.
The establishment of the new Public Service Pay Centre in Miramichi will create up to 550 public service jobs starting in 2012, reaching its full staff complement by 2015.
A total of 146 employees were successfully recruited and embarked on a professional training program in March 2012. The first wave of employees, temporarily located in the Miramichi Business Complex (formally known as the Miramichi Mall), began delivering pay services in May following the transfer of the first wave of employee pay accounts. An additional 197 Public Service Pay Centre employees will begin work in September 2013, when the second wave of pay accounts will be transferred. Recruitment is underway to staff these positions.
A lease contract was awarded on August 31, 2012, to provincially owned Provincial Holdings Ltd., to accommodate the second wave of 197 employees. The interim building, also located in Miramichi, is being renovated prior to welcoming new employees.
On December 13, 2012, the Government of Canada purchased land located at 24 Church Street from the Miramichi Agricultural Exhibition Association for the future site of the Public Service Pay Centre. The land is located in the heart of Miramichi and was chosen based on a fair and transparent process in accordance with federal standards and policies.
On January 16, 2013, the Government of Canada launched a Request for Qualification process for the construction of the new Public Service Pay Centre facility. The new facility will be built on the newly purchased land, with construction scheduled to begin in 2014.
