The government of Saskatchewan gave the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Public Service last week to six teams and individuals who went above and beyond in areas of innovation, quality service and leadership.
Established in 2003, the award is used to recognize and reward the work of Saskatchewan’s public servants. Active employees of government ministries, as well as some treasury board Crown corporations, boards, commissions and agencies may be nominated for the award.
Among this year’s recipients is Tim Earing of the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, who received the award for quality service thanks to his work promoting trades and growing the pool of apprentice and journeyperson mechanics within the province.
Giles Saulnier, the deputy director of Adult Corrections within the Ministry of Justice, received the award for leadership due to his management of the Urban Camp program. The Urban Camp program now includes 50 inmates of the Saskatoon Correctional Centre who, among other tasks, provide services for seniors, shovel snow, and help set up and take down relief centres during emergencies.
The Mineral Administration Registry Saskatchewan (MARS) team, for the Ministry of the Economy, received the award for innovation. The MARS team developed the first web-based system for issuing and administering Crown mineral claims, and as a result, the mining industry has saved millions of dollars in ground staking costs, freeing up more money to invest in exploration in the province.
The Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative team, with the Ministry of Health, received the award for quality service. Now in year three of their four-year initiative to ensure patients receive their surgeries within a three-month period, their progress report has shown that 90 per cent of the surgeries scheduled in the province were performed within this year’s wait target of six months.
The Saskatchewan Employment Act Development team, with the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, received the award for quality service thanks to their contributions to the research and policy analysis necessary to make the Saskatchewan Employment Act a reality. The Act consolidated 12 pieces of labour legislation into a single document that protects workers, promotes growth and increases accountability.
The Community Services Unit Senior Leadership team, for the Ministry of Social Services, received the award for innovation due to their efforts to improve services for people with intellectual disabilities. As a result of their work, services were in development or in place for over 600 individuals as of 2013, leading to better inclusion of people with disabilities within their communities.
