2002/03 Annual Service Plan Report Ministry of Forests

Summary Reports on Other Planning Processes

Human Resources Management Plan

During the 2002/03 fiscal year, the Ministry of Forests went through a major organizational change resulting from Core Review. In addition to significantly restructuring the organization, the ministry entered its second, and largest phase, of workforce adjustment — reducing its workforce by over 700 FTEs. The primary human resource (HR) focus was to ensure a successful transition for all employees. The emphasis was on assisting affected employees through securing placement opportunities wherever possible, as well as making available various methods of support such as counseling, change management, career development, and retirement planning.

In September 2002 the ministry published its HR Strategic Plan, outlining seven priority areas (communications, workforce adjustment, organizational structures and functions, aligning the management of human resources, leadership, attracting and retaining talent, and implementing an integrated diversity program). At the same time, the ministry launched a workplace survey that allowed staff to comment on their opinions and perceptions about their employment, the workplace and their experiences within the ministry. There was a 75 per cent participation rate that helped identify and benchmark both the ministry's strengths, as well as its weaknesses. The results of the survey will be used to build strategies to help improve the workplace in order to strengthen the Forest Service for the future.

Information Resources Management Plan

During the year a major initiative was launched with the goal of replacing the majority of the ministry's major computer applications with modern versions. Approximately 6.6 million lines of computer code will be replaced. These new systems will be cheaper to operate, and will be better adapted to the ministry's new operational environment. Several will incorporate electronic commerce capacity.

Delivery of the new systems began in January of 2003. Electronic transmission of seedling requests and timber scale returns has also commenced.

The ministry has been working intensively with the new shared service organization to develop new operating relationships. A total of 56 ministry staff were transferred to it.

A system for managing email and other computerized records was put in place in a number of ministry offices. This system was particularly helpful in managing the records of offices that were in the process of closing.