The exceptional efforts and dedication to the B.C. Public Service of provincial public service employees on Vancouver Island have been recognized with Premier’s Awards, Premier Christy Clark announced today.

“These awards recognize public servants who go out of their way to seek better, more efficient means to deliver the services British Columbians depend on,” Premier Clark said. “They lead by example, and have helped strengthen relationships between B.C. communities.”

More than 220 employees and teams from Vancouver Island were recognized for developing new, more efficient ways of providing services to communities throughout British Columbia.

• A team led a transformative mining initiative, which resulted in improved First Nation consultation and increased economic benefits for communities and industry.
• A respected tax professional led a team of over 130 employees in the Return to PST, B.C.’s largest legislative project ever undertaken and completed it within tight timelines.
• A partnership involving 24 B.C. communities helped remote communities access fresh produce and create a sustainable strategy benefitting generations of British Columbians.
• A Pharmacare branch led a LEAN initiative that saw a massive reduction in wait times for B.C. patients needing drug coverage and a streamlined process for the physicians who serve them.

“Today’s recipients are a reminder of why the B.C. Public Service is one of the best places to work in Canada,” Finance Minister Michael de Jong said. “Each individual has brought their vision, skills and unwavering dedication to their work and the result is a healthier and more prosperous B.C.”

This year’s recipients were selected by a group of independent adjudicators and announced via a streaming online video presentation. A webcast held on Sept. 4 honoured public servants from the North and Interior regions and a webcast on Sept. 18 will honour Lower Mainland employees. The final celebration will take place in Victoria at a provincial awards ceremony.

The nominations go through a two-part judging process. Initially, all Premier’s Award nominations are considered at a provincial level and reviewed by external adjudicators who evaluate the nominations on a category-by-category basis. Adjudicators select the regional finalists, including regional Premier’s Award recipients. The adjudicators also produce a short-list for the judges to review for provincial consideration.

To be considered at the provincial level, the project or person has had to demonstrate significant impact or is widely adopted across multiple regions of the province. A panel of external judges then reviews the short-listed provincial nominations and selects the provincial finalists.

Videos of the Premier’s Awards finalists can be viewed online at: http://www.youtube.com/user/BCPublicService#p/p

Media Contacts:

Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252‎

Jamie Edwardson
Director of Communications
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821

BACKGROUNDER

Vancouver Island Premier’s Award Regional Ceremony
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014

225 public service employees from B.C.’s Vancouver Island have received awards in Innovation, Leadership, Partnership, and Organizational Excellence.

Organization: Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
Description:
INNOVATION - The Economic and Community Development Agreement (ECDA) team found an innovative yet simple approach to solving the issue of stalled mineral activity in B.C. With the help of First Nations and the mining industry, a major roadblock to mineral exploration was discovered — First Nations were not receiving the economic benefits they were entitled to. The first initiative like this in Canada, a solution was developed and implemented to share mining sector revenue with First Nations impacted by mine developments. At no cost to industry, this program leverages a portion of mineral tax into significant provincial benefits through earlier production dates for new mines, and safeguarded jobs and revenues on expansions. Approximately $12 million in provincial mineral tax revenue was shared in 2013 through ECDAs, benefitting 18 First Nations communities, increasing investor confidence and ensuring future development and exploration in B.C. This initiative fulfils long‐standing commitments to First Nations and supports ongoing, mutually beneficial, consultation processes.

Organization: Ministry of Finance
Description:
LEADERSHIP - Jordan Goss is an exemplary leader, bringing strategy and creativity to B.C.’s tax administration while empowering employees throughout the process. Known for her respectful and genuine leadership style, Goss rallied her team to successfully re‐implement the PST, BC’s largest legislative project ever undertaken, under tight timelines (18 months). Performing in a dual executive leadership capacity, Jordan held two key senior positions during the PST reimplementation. As director of PST Administration to the 14‐member PST policy team, Goss applied her insight and extensive tax experience to re‐model and streamline PST legislation that had not been redrafted in 60 years. Concurrently, as executive director of Consumer Taxation Programs, Goss also led up to 125 employees. As a requested speaker and advisor to tax professionals throughout Canada, Goss’ skills and leadership are known throughout the national tax community. Her work will help sustain and evolve B.C.’s tax system for years to come, but it is her strong sense of camaraderie and motivational leadership style that will continue to inspire her colleagues.

Organization: Ministry of Health
Description:
PARTNERSHIP - For many residents of B.C.’s remote communities, finding fresh, local food without traveling hundreds of kilometres is impossible. To improve the year-round availability and quality of fruits and vegetables for remote communities, the Ministry of Health partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and 24 remote communities to establish the Produce Availability in Remote Communities Initiative (PAI). Over three years, the PAI built 19 community gardens, 16 greenhouses, a seasonal farmer’s market and provided education and produce preservation programs, with the help of NGOs, First Nations communities, local governments, food retailers and remote residents who wanted better access to healthy and fresh food. Through the PAI, an estimated 1,200 British Columbians now have access to fresh, nutritional food and communities have a renewed sense of pride in their self-sufficiency.

Organization: Ministry of Health
Description:
ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE - The PharmaCare Special Authority Branch undertook a LEAN review to streamline the processes of awarding full-benefit drug status to medications. Before the LEAN initiative, the branch processed their approximately 700 Special Authority requests from physicians daily (approximately 180,000 annually) through an outdated system. Delays in patient drug coverage were common. Now, as a result of their new LEAN approach, over two million process steps and almost one million file transfers and decision points were reduced and streamlined annually. Turnaround times, error rates and customer satisfaction improved immediately. Improvements were budget neutral and did not use additional staffing resources or costly new technology. Requests that previously took days or weeks are now processed within one business day, benefiting the health and well-being of all British Columbians who rely on this important service.

Media Contacts:

Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252‎

Jamie Edwardson
Director of Communications
Ministry of Finance
250 356-2821