The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier and Minister Responsible for the Public Service Commission:

Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service Commission.

I’m pleased to recognize its significant contribution to the protection of merit in our province, through recruitment practices that are fair, equitable and transparent.

The Public Service Commission is responsible for many crucial programs and initiatives that help our government operate every day – from training and development to employee safety and wellness initiatives and hiring of staff for core government departments.

So far this year, more than 15,000 courses have been completed through our learning and development programs. Our ergonomics team has performed more than 150 ergonomic assessments, which contributes to the health and safety of our employees.

Today, the Public Service Commission has a head start on recruiting the next generation of public service employees. They’ve invited employees with children in Grade Nine to visit the House of Assembly as part of National Take Our Kids to Work Day. We welcome these employees and students here today.

Thank you to the Public Service Commission and its dedicated employees for their service to the province over the past 50 years. I’m proud to be part of their journey as they continue to build a strong and professional workforce, while supporting the well-being of every member of the public service.