Policy on Learning, Training and Development

Beginning January 1st, 2006, a new Policy on Learning, Training and Development will come into effect. This Policy follows an announcement made earlier this fall by the Honourable Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board, of an investment of up to $35 million per year for career-long learning of public service employees. It supports the federal government’s talent pool by providing best-in-class learning and training opportunities designed to foster excellence and to ensure that we have a world-class workforce to serve the needs of Canadians today and for future generations.

Learning, training, leadership development and professional development are key to ensuring that the public service can meet the challenges of the 21st century. Acquisition of skills and knowledge, and development of managerial and leadership know-how are critical for the effective management of the public service – it is the foundation of a responsive, accountable and innovative government. This policy supports this objective by building individual capacity, strengthening organizational leadership and encouraging innovation in public sector management.

The new Policy will ensure that employees at all levels of the organization – from front line employees to executives – are supported in their career through access to standardized training programs that will help them in their current job and prepare them to take on the challenges of the next job. More precisely:

• new employees will have access to orientation training designed to ensure that they share a common understanding of their role as public servants as well as the values and ethics of the public service;
  
  
• specialists in financial management, internal audit, procurement, materiel management, real property, information management and human resources, will have access to specialized training programs to support their professional development and/or certification;
  
  
• newly appointed supervisors, managers and executives will have an opportunity to complete training on delegation of authority prior to taking on their new legal responsibilities;
  
  
• existing managers and executives will use online self-assessment tools to assess their knowledge of legal responsibilities; and
  
  
• employees at all levels will be supported in their career growth and progression through learning plans that will allow them to acquire and maintain knowledge, skills and competencies related to their level and function.

This policy reflects the government's commitment to ensuring that Canadians are served by a skilled, well-trained, professional workforce and it recognizes that foundational learning is required within the public service in support of this objective. It fosters the value of strong organizational leadership based on forward-looking management practices and continuous improvements in performance.