Skills at Speed

SKILLS AT SPEED: Why Canada’s Public Service Should Grow Its Interchange Program to Build Skills and Networks The public sector should expand its interchange program with the private sector in order to diversify its employees’ networks and skill sets and, in so doing, help the public service face employment challenges and disruptive technologies. [...] Employment in the public service and gig work are at opposite ends of a spectrum: the public service offers job security and a sense of The public service is at present too vocation, while the gig economy offers flexibility and opportunity. [...] Job insular and isolated from the rest security within the government is seen to be integral to the specific role of the economy and from labour that the public service plays within Canada’s Westminster system and markets. [...] Michael Wernick, Clerk of the Privy To this end, the federal government should more actively promote and Council, has spoken publicly about encourage regular use of Interchange Canada, a program of the Treasury his intention to build the skills Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) that facilitates exchanges in and out of capacity of the public service. [...] Specifically, government should: nick’s position stems from a widely expand the use of Interchange Canada by creating the administrative acknowledged need for skills infrastructure and financial incentives needed for significant uptake of renewal in the public sector as well the program as in the private sector.