Government Temporary Help Services Advisory Committee Meetings - November 29, 2006

• Agenda
• Record Decisions

Agenda

Wednesday, November 29, 2006
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
11A1 Room 101
Gatineau, Québec

1. Approval of Record of Decision
2. What constitutes THS:
   1. Definition
   2. THS Providers (Qualifications / Mandatory Requirements)
   3. How does THS "fit" government hiring options (casual vs terms vs temps)
   4. Types of services
3. Categories of THS Personnel (Classifications)
   1. Employer – Employee relationship
   2. How to efficiently and effectively make a call-up
   3. Call-up based on quality as well as price
   4. Method of selection by client
4. Other Items
5. Next Meeting
6. Roundtable and closing remarks.

Record of Decisions

In attendance:

• Steven Turner, Consultant (Chair)
• Ian Bennett, A/ADM Acquisitions Branch
• Helen Seto, Health Canada
• Mario Beaulne, Service Canada
• Sylvain Cardinal, PWGSC
• Line Dugas, PWGSC
• Richard Goodfellow, PWGSC
• Meredith Egan, ACSESS
• Jeremy Ingle, ACSESS
• Kathryn Tremblay, ACSESS
• Paul Gagnon, Portage Personnel
• Daniel Moorcroft, QMR Staffing Solutions Inc.
• Pierre Paquette, PWGSC, (Secretary)

Item

Item 1 - Approval of Record of Decision

• A member of the industry raised the issue of "Right of First Referral" involving a letter she received from a client department. The Chair asked the member of the industry to share the letter with the Committee in order to obtain a better understanding of the issue.
• The Record of Decision was adopted with one item being added to the List of Issues for Discussion by the Committee: "Right of First Referral".
• The issue of what is wrong with the current system was raised by a member of the industry. PWGSC will table the letter at the next meeting addressing this issue.

Item 2 - Procurement Transformation Presentations to Government Departments

• Members of the industry raised concerns about PWGSC's motives with regard to the Government THS Advisory Committee in light of copies they obtained of past PWGSC presentations to departments covering the procurement strategy for THS, including timelines and savings.
• The A/ADM Acquisitions Branch, Ian Bennett, explained to the Committee the context in which PWGSC made these presentations. The purpose of these presentations is to engage departments in Procurement Transformation to achieve savings. The presentations cover the methodology and assumptions for saving opportunities identified in the presentations were generated last Spring. PWGSC has since revised its approach in many ways. For example, reverse auctions have been dropped. Such measures will have an impact on savings, although the precise calculations are not yet available.
• PWGSC is committed to the objectives of Procurement Transformation and to the work of the Committee. Because of the effort involved in generating projections, the department will only update the saving opportunities and timelines for THS once a new method of supply has been completed. PWGSC welcomes suggestions and ideas from the industry on how to improve the procurement of THS.

Item 3 - What constitutes THS

• The Definition of THS and Qualifications of THS providers were discussed at length but no decision was concluded. However, there was recognition by members of the Committee that it was a good discussion about the foundation of the business and the need to move with more deliberations.
• Several documents pertaining to these issues were tabled for discussion. Attached, at Annex A is a list of the documents distributed to members.
• Members are to come to the next meeting with their proposals on the Definition for THS and criteria for qualifying THS Providers.

Item 4 - Other Items

• It was agreed that, in order to ensure greater transparency of the Committee, PWGSC will place the Record of Decisions on the PWGSC/THS Website for ease of access.

Item 5 - Next Meeting

• The next meeting will be held December 6, 2006 at Place du Portage, 11 Laurier, PDP III, Gatineau, Québec, Tower A, 11A1, room 101 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Agenda for the next meeting will be sent to members via e-mail prior to the next meeting.
• It was agreed that due to XMAS Season, the Committee will not be meeting on December 27, 2006 and January 3, 2007.

Annex A / List of Documents Distributed
To Committee Members

• Definition from Various Sources
• Qualifications for THS Providers
• Testing Instruments
• Bidder Profile
• Classification Description
• Consolidated Temporary Help Assessment Report
• Meeting Short Term Human Resources Needs