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Focus On Series


Area Summary: Leave Management

Relevant Audits

Audit Office

Report Title
(click on title to access summary)

Publication date

OAG – Canada

Modernizing Human Resource Management

April 2010

Examples of audit objectives

  • The objectives of the audit were to determine whether:
    • the lead agencies and selected departments have implemented the new requirements of the Public Service Modernization Act, including reporting;
    • the objective and requirements for the legislative review have been established; and
    • new roles and responsibilities have been carried out. (View report summary)

Examples of audit criteria

  • The lead agencies and selected departments haveimplemented the new requirements of the Public ServiceModernization Act (PSMA).

  • The lead agencies have issued reports as required by the PSMA.

  • The lead agencies have performance measurement systems in place to report progress made on the modernization of human resource management.

  • The objective and requirements for the legislative review have been established.

  • The lead agencies were preparing for the legislative review.

  • The revised roles and responsibilities for human resource management resulting from the PSMA have been implemented.

  • The roles and responsibilities of the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer and the new responsibilities given to deputy heads were defined and communicated. (View report summary)

Examples of evidence gathering and analysis techniques

  • Work consisted of review of documentation and interviews in the six organizations with direct responsibilities under the PSMA. (View report summary)

  • The audit team met with officials of six selected entities and held structured interviews with a sample of deputy heads. (View report summary)

  • The audit coverage was broadened to include interviews and document review with other stakeholders in the federal public administration, such as bargaining agents, the Association of Professional Executives in the Public Service of Canada, the Human Resources Council, and regional federal councils. (View report summary)

  • All entities covered by the audit attested to the accuracy of the information they provided. (View report summary)

Examples of findings

  • The key requirements of the legislation have been implemented. Changes have been made to allow for more flexibility in how the public service is staffed and how recourse is managed. Mechanisms have been put in place to foster harmonious labour relations and to resolve disputes more informally. (View report summary)

  • There have been difficulties encountered in implementing some aspects of the legislation, including the application of some of the new tools and mechanisms. (View report summary)

  • The various entities required to report to Parliament on human resource management have generally met the requirements. Reports provide information about the implementation process and some activities. However, despite a commitment in 2005 by TBS and the former Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada to report on interim achievements, reports provide only some of that information. (View report summary)

  • The legislation calls for a legislative review of the Public Service Employment Act and the Public Service Labour Relations Act. The minister responsible for the review has been designated, and a review team has been put in place. Preparation for the review is progressing. However, insufficient information on whether the results expected from the legislation have been achieved could limit the review team’s ability to provide meaningful information to support the review and to inform Parliament. (View report summary)

Examples of recommendations

  • To improve its reporting to Parliament and support the legislative review, TBS should ensure that it provides more timely information to Parliament and that it reports on whether the changes to human resource management have achieved the results intended by the legislation. (View report summary)

  • The PSMA Legislative Review Team should ensure that information provided to support the legislative review will allow the report by the President of the Treasury Board to provide meaningful information to Parliament on the extent to which the expectations of the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Public Service Employment Act have been met and to propose any changes, including improvements. (View report summary)