2002/03 Annual Service Plan Report Ministry of Human Resources

Message from the Deputy Minister

I am pleased to present the Annual Service Plan Report for the Ministry of Human Resources for the 2002/03 fiscal year. This report reflects the accomplishments the ministry has made since introducing the BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) Program in April 2002, and its accompanying legislation and regulations in September 2002.

Fiscal year 2002/03 was a transition year, during which the ministry assessed client needs and implemented new programs and services designed to meet BCEA goals. Employment planning is the cornerstone of the BCEA program, and, this year, the ministry implemented employment plans that describe the specific steps clients will take toward finding and keeping employment. The ministry introduced Job Placement, Training for Jobs, Pre-employment Supports for Persons with Disabilities, and Community Assistance programs to address the ministry's commitments to assisting clients into employment and to performance-based service delivery.

The ministry also introduced the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal as an independent, single, streamlined appeal system. This new appeal tribunal was established to ensure open, fair and timely decision-making. Other developments included moving forward with a long-term electronic service delivery initiative.

To provide a comprehensive performance assessment of the ministry's achievements, this Annual Service Plan Report outlines the goals, measures and targets that were set for the 2002/03 fiscal year, as well as goals and measures that were added or refined since the Service Plan's release. These changes reflect the ministry's commitment to an open and accountable organization.

All of these accomplishments support the ministry's mandate to assist people into sustainable employment and provide income assistance to those in need. The ministry's progress in delivering this mandate is detailed in the following pages.

Robin Ciceri,
Deputy Minister