[Canada] Top payroll official resigns after AG’s latest report on Phoenix

In Canada, the senior official responsible for overseeing the federal government's transition from the disastrous Phoenix pay system to the new Dayforce software has resigned, CBC reports.

Alex Benay - the associate deputy minister with Public Services and Procurement Canada - announced his departure on March 25, just two days after the auditor general of Canada released a critical report on the project.

In an internal memo obtained by Radio-Canada, Mr Benay reportedly said that serving in the role has been a privilege and he did not take the decision to leave lightly. The letter to employees did not specify the reasons for his departure.

In a separate memo also obtained by CBC, deputy minister Arianne Reza said Mr Benay is pursuing an opportunity outside the federal government.

In his letter, Mr Benay said he will work closely with the management team in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound reportedly stated that Mr Benay is leaving the department in good order, and that his departure is not related to the auditor general's report.

"I’m not worried, and he’s someone I respect," the minister said.

On March 23, Auditor General Karen Hogen said she was concerned about the transition to the new pay system, particularly given the slow progress in simplifying pay rules. She said standardising pay rules before launching a new system was one of the key lessons learned from the Phoenix transition.

Her report’s findings stated that the government had missed its backlog elimination targets and that the preliminary cost estimates contained shortcomings.

Mr Benay’s departure is a matter of concern for Sean O’Reilly, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC).

"I appreciated Alex and what he brought to the table. He was one of the few people I dealt with on the Phoenix pay system who gave me some hope," he said.

In a statement, Bruce Roy - president of the Government Services Union, which represents the majority of employees at the Department of Public Services and Procurement - reportedly said he was surprised by Mr Benay’s departure. He declined to comment further.

Source: CBC

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Canada, the senior official responsible for overseeing the federal government's transition from the disastrous Phoenix pay system to the new Dayforce software has resigned, CBC reports.

Alex Benay - the associate deputy minister with Public Services and Procurement Canada - announced his departure on March 25, just two days after the auditor general of Canada released a critical report on the project.

In an internal memo obtained by Radio-Canada, Mr Benay reportedly said that serving in the role has been a privilege and he did not take the decision to leave lightly. The letter to employees did not specify the reasons for his departure.

In a separate memo also obtained by CBC, deputy minister Arianne Reza said Mr Benay is pursuing an opportunity outside the federal government.

In his letter, Mr Benay said he will work closely with the management team in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound reportedly stated that Mr Benay is leaving the department in good order, and that his departure is not related to the auditor general's report.

"I’m not worried, and he’s someone I respect," the minister said.

On March 23, Auditor General Karen Hogen said she was concerned about the transition to the new pay system, particularly given the slow progress in simplifying pay rules. She said standardising pay rules before launching a new system was one of the key lessons learned from the Phoenix transition.

Her report’s findings stated that the government had missed its backlog elimination targets and that the preliminary cost estimates contained shortcomings.

Mr Benay’s departure is a matter of concern for Sean O’Reilly, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC).

"I appreciated Alex and what he brought to the table. He was one of the few people I dealt with on the Phoenix pay system who gave me some hope," he said.

In a statement, Bruce Roy - president of the Government Services Union, which represents the majority of employees at the Department of Public Services and Procurement - reportedly said he was surprised by Mr Benay’s departure. He declined to comment further.

Source: CBC

(Quotes via original reporting)