It is an accepted belief that media operates on the principle of competition and therefore it stands to reason that every reporter's dream is to get the scoop on the big story. It is then surprising to find a saturation of non-news events, such as the release of the new iPhone, or Bieber's love life while media continues to pass up on real news.
Several stories about government waste, criminal activity, abuse of power and authority have been revealed to the media. Yet there has been no interest to follow-up, confirm or clarify. Is it that media fears government and is under its control?
As a last resort after failed attempts in search of the truth with the provincial government and then the media, the blog A Bullish Government was developed. This is but one small voice straining to be heard over a well orchestrated government cover up. A mission fueled by the hope that the message will somehow be heard and the information acted on by Manitobans or other outside influence.
Here is one story submitted to mainstream media prior to the provincial election last fall that for unknown reasons was not pursued although by media standards, the story 'has legs'.
CSC Profiling (replaces earlier post, "whistleblowing silenced")
In 2008 MB Civil Service Commission participated in the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI) and in 2011 was required to disclose the total cost of this project under the information access act. The project seems to serve no real purpose and its costs significant. With the monumental deficit nearing $1-billion as reported by Winnipeg Free Press "Premier faces a tough year ahead" Premier Selinger acknowledges that "tough choices" need to be made. However, in prioritizing what is superfluous, the Premier ought to first take action to reign in CSC's spending.
Background:
CSC in partnership with Organization Staff and Development (a special operating agency "SOA" of Government of MB) contracted a private company Think Unlimited to facilitate the HBDI workshops. CSC advised that ministerial approval from then Minister of Finance Greg Selinger was not required. Funding came from a Development Fund set aside from retained earnings. CSC provided copies of what it purported to be the total cost:
$7,486.25= (facilitation fees 3 workshops) $2,750 + $4,736.25 (participant materials) GABS
CSC failed to include the cost of food and beverages incurred at Place Louis Riel and Winnipeg Convention Centre where the workshops were held. Is this an oversight or in fear of backlash from the public viewing catered lunches for top management as wasteful during times of budget cuts? (Note: Most Government boardrooms including that of CSC, could have easily accommodated this group of 40.) The costs of $9,234.65 were then stated to be the total costs, however copies of the invoices alleged to be $1,748.40 from the two hotels were not provided to corroborate. GABS
Also missing from total costs:
CSC did not include the contractor's (Think Unlimited) fees for consultations, meetings and phone calls for development, planning and design which began on or before January 2008. There is no accounting of the company's reports at the conclusion of the project. There is also no accounting for lost productivity of staff during a time in which CSC and OSD attested that it was experiencing severe labour shortages due to extended vacancies in positions and "all staff were experiencing higher than usual stress levels..." GABS
The fund of retained earnings could have (should have) been used to used to fill these vacancies instead, as one senior consultant stated off record, "there was no interest in filling the vacancies. All they (at a senior management team meeting) wanted to do was talk about this HBDI project; the cost of which would have covered a full time admin's salary for a year which we desperately need." The fact that there were no new hires during this time is confirmed by CSC-OSD as provided in its response documents to the Labour Board and Human Rights Commission. (See also RWP Process is a "CLM" Career Limiting Move.)
Accountability Reports are used to identify any end results and measurable gains to justify the costs of a project. CSC denied access to these reports when requested. HBDI is an instrument used to measure an individual’s thinking preferences. Under privacy regulations the information CSC-OSD collected is personal and confidential. Legally, the data collected would be inaccessible to anyone other than the participant. From the onset staff emails expressed concern that participation in the project was mandatory. There were “fears” of being profiled and fears about how the survey results would be used and shared with colleagues.
“I would have to agree,” stated Frank Cantafio (former CSC EAP Director) in an email to Beauchamp-Schmidt, “...There are at least 5 other employees at the Commission who have done it already through LDI. I don’t feel the need to redo.” The project was thought to be repetitive; something similar to what government already offered and therefore seen as an unnecessary cost. Beauchamp-Schmidt responded by email that there would be composite reports identifying thinking tendencies amongst the group and “…she can’t do that …if she doesn’t have access to the raw data.”
What is OSD's mandate?
OSD is in the business of providing consultation and facilitation services. It has a number of full time trainers, consultants and facilitators to deliver HR-related workshops similar to that of HBDI. By contracting out, scenarios much like that stated in Law at Lunch -- More Cowbell, get played out repeatedly, double-dipping into taxpayers' pockets. OSD markets its services to the Provincial Government. In addition it provides services on a user-fee basis to other Crown Corporations, The Federal Government of Canada, Regional Health Authorities, Foundations, and other privately owned companies.
A review of OSD's Operating Charter of 1994 states that it is not the intent of OSD to take away jobs from private companies that provide similar HR services. However, its 2009-10 Annual Report reflects that it is in direct competition with private Manitoba HR businesses. The OSD Charter is more than likely defunct as there have been many changes overall since its inception and yet its charter has never been reviewed or updated. GABS
A Special Operating Agency's (generally) are a cost recovery department in that it is an agency that charges a user-fee for its services and in theory the costs of operating an SOA are then recoverable. A Development Fund is revenue from retained earnings and it was used to cover the costs of the HBDI project. Could this surplus money (likely revenue from OSD workshops) have been set aside to cover any anticipated expenditures?
In the last provincial budget, Minister of Finance (then Rosann Wowchuk) approved costs of $276,000 to upgrade the OSD's registrar with a new Learning Management System. The cost of which is scheduled to be paid in annual minimum payments of $92,000 over three years starting 2011. Is this upgrade as a result of OSD expanding its business publicly, outside of its legislated mandate? If this is the case, the competition (along with all taxpaying Manitobans) are funding OSD's business operations as well as gifting it upwards of $300K.If and/or when OSD ever becomes a profitable business, will it pay back the total costs for the new LMS? Given OSD's annual report as of March 31, 2010 shows a loss of $250,000 perhaps the Premier's 'tough choices' as to what is unessential and not cost effective should begin here.
In order to eliminate the deficit there needs to be some real answers to some tough questions. The difficulty comes in knowing what to ask. The quality and integrity of reporting significantly impacts our ability to be an informed public. Is there any wonder why there was so little voter turnout last fall when readers are on a steady diet of pre-packaged Happy McNews on government with an also less than satisfying side order of non-news such as....
as "lies, damned lies and ..." in Winnipeg Free Press Driving them crazy about EGAD! "...parking spots" A conspiracy going on at the Winnipeg International Airport on the basis that it took someone 10 minutes before actually finding a parking spot.
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