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GOVERNMENT: Transparency of state agencies to be stepped up, says Stelmach

        (AlbertaIndex, November 6, Tuesday) --- Premier Ed Stelmach said his government will act on the recommendations of a governance task force set up to improve the transparency and accountability of state agencies, boards and commissions.
 

        The government has accepted the task force’s report and will implement the recommendations, which include developing broad legislation to guide agency governance and operations, creating a classification system for agencies, with corresponding governance practices, clarifying mandates and roles of agencies, ministries and government, improving agency recruitment processes, and creating a secretariat to provide coordination and leading governance practice support to ministries and agencies.

Due to the nature of some boards, elected or senior government officials will continue to be appointed if their input is important for the agency to achieve its mandate. This is a modification of what the task force recommended.

The review, headed by Neil McCrank, focused on whether agencies are the right organizational form to provide government services. It also examined agency’s mandates and whether they understood their roles and responsibilities, and processes to recruit the right people with the right skills to serve on boards. The task force’s other members were Alan Tupper and Linda Hohol.

During the review process, participants were asked to comment on essential elements of good governance, roles and responsibilities, appointments, and accountability mechanisms. They also commented on common governance problems and how best to implement an effective agency governance framework in Alberta.

A governance framework has been drafted that details the next steps to implement each recommendation. Interested parties will be invited to comment on the framework before it is finalized in the coming months.

“Agencies, boards and commissions deliver a significant amount of work on behalf of the government,” said Premier Stelmach. “For that reason, I am committed to putting the recommendations into action and moving forward with a keen eye on transparent and effective government. The outcomes will have a lasting impact that will benefit all Albertans.”

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