Human Resources Development Canada
Encyclopedia
The Department of Human Resources Development, also referred to as Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), is a former department
of the Government of Canada
. It held responsibility for a wide portfolio of social services.
HRDC was created in 1993 by Prime Minister
Kim Campbell
's government in an attempt to decrease the size of the federal cabinet by grouping several departments with similar responsibilities. In the case of HRDC, the former Department of Employment and Immigration formed its nucleus.
HRDC's creation was probably the most enduring decision taken by Campbell's short-lived administration. The new department, however was poorly focused and had a wide range of institutional cultures from the merged bureaucracies; it also had one of the larger departmental budgets and a variety of responsibilities ranging from the Unemployment Insurance program to the issuance of Social Insurance Number
s and job training and counselling.
In the late 1990s, HRDC gained public headlines across Canada following numerous poorly-thought procurements, notably dozens of server computers using the Unix
operating system, this despite the fact that the purchase far exceeded the department's computing requirements. Other problems relating to several incompatible email systems made HRDC a scapegoat for attacks on the government by opposition parties.
In 2000, HRDC's poor accounting practices were made infamous by the Canadian Alliance
when it was claimed that approximately $1 billion (CAD) in employment grants could not be accounted for. Peter Donolo
later claimed that this scandal was "phony" and the true amount unaccounted for was $85,000 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060208.wcomment0208/BNStory/National/home
HRDC was based at a government office facility at Place du Portage
IV in Gatineau
(formerly downtown Hull, Quebec
).
HRDC was dissolved in a December 2003 government reorganization which saw two departments, the Department of Social Development and the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development created in its place. The two departments were re-amalgamated on February 6, 2006, though now named Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
of the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
. It held responsibility for a wide portfolio of social services.
HRDC was created in 1993 by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Kim Campbell
Kim Campbell
Avril Phædra Douglas "Kim" Campbell, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, university professor, diplomat, and writer. She served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 25, 1993, to November 4, 1993...
's government in an attempt to decrease the size of the federal cabinet by grouping several departments with similar responsibilities. In the case of HRDC, the former Department of Employment and Immigration formed its nucleus.
HRDC's creation was probably the most enduring decision taken by Campbell's short-lived administration. The new department, however was poorly focused and had a wide range of institutional cultures from the merged bureaucracies; it also had one of the larger departmental budgets and a variety of responsibilities ranging from the Unemployment Insurance program to the issuance of Social Insurance Number
Social Insurance Number
A social insurance number is a number issued in Canada to administer various government programs. The SIN was created in 1964 to serve as a client account number in the administration of the Canada Pension Plan and Canada's varied employment insurance programs. In 1967, Revenue Canada started...
s and job training and counselling.
In the late 1990s, HRDC gained public headlines across Canada following numerous poorly-thought procurements, notably dozens of server computers using the Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
operating system, this despite the fact that the purchase far exceeded the department's computing requirements. Other problems relating to several incompatible email systems made HRDC a scapegoat for attacks on the government by opposition parties.
In 2000, HRDC's poor accounting practices were made infamous by the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
when it was claimed that approximately $1 billion (CAD) in employment grants could not be accounted for. Peter Donolo
Peter Donolo
Peter Donolo is a political strategist and former Chief of Staff to former Liberal Party of Canada leader Michael Ignatieff. From 1993-99, he was the Director of Communications in the office of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien....
later claimed that this scandal was "phony" and the true amount unaccounted for was $85,000 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060208.wcomment0208/BNStory/National/home
HRDC was based at a government office facility at Place du Portage
Place du Portage
right|thumb|250px|The Place du Portage complex facing the Ottawa River.Place du Portage is a large office complex in the Hull sector of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, situated along Boulevard Maisonneuve and facing the Ottawa River...
IV in Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
(formerly downtown Hull, Quebec
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
).
HRDC was dissolved in a December 2003 government reorganization which saw two departments, the Department of Social Development and the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development created in its place. The two departments were re-amalgamated on February 6, 2006, though now named Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
See also
- Minister of Human Resources DevelopmentMinister of Human Resources Development (Canada)The Minister of Human Resources Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's human resources department, Human Resources Development Canada .-Ministers:Prior to 1996, the post was known as Minister of Employment and...