Alberta’s NDP government will fill positions on agencies, boards and commissions through a hiring process it says ends the patronage system used by the previous PC government.
Finance Minister Joe Ceci announced Wednesday that vacancies will be filled through an open application and competition process that moves away from the practice of “insiders appointing insiders.”
People interested in sitting on a board can now submit a resume through a website that lists all opportunities in one place.
“Our goal is to attract a much broader pool of individuals from a wider range of backgrounds and experiences,” Ceci said.
While Ceci said “what you know is more important than who you know,” it isn’t clear how NDP partisanship will be kept out of the process.
After a committee creates a shortlist, appointments staff from the premier’s office will join board and ministry officials in interviewing applicants.
Ceci said political affiliations are not a factor. They are looking for the most qualified people, and a wider pool of applicants generated by the website should help.
“We’re not looking for people who are of one stripe or another, we are looking for people who have competencies, that are from diverse backgrounds,” he said.
People who currently serve on boards will continue in their positions. They will have to reapply when their terms expires, Ceci said.
Ceci’s ministry is currently reviewing all agencies, boards and commissions. The first phase of the review resulted in 26 agencies, boards and commissions being amalgamated or dissolved.
Work on the second phase of the three-part review is underway.