2008-2009 Service Canada Annual Report

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Produced by Service Canada

November 2010

La version française est intitulée Service Canada – Rapport annuel 2008-2009 (SC-230-11-10F)

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2010

SC-230-11-10E

Contents

Message from the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

I am pleased to present the Service Canada Annual Report 2008-2009. In this report, we tell the story of Service Canada's crucial role in providing support to Canadians to help them through the difficult economic times that began in the latter part of the year.

This report explains how, when the number of unemployed workers and other people needing government services increased substantially, we responded with the programs and services Canadians needed. We were tasked with implementing Economic Action Plan measures to help those most affected by the downturn. Our efforts included processing more Employment Insurance claims, work-sharing arrangements, and training and skills-development initiatives than usual. We also offered extended service hours at our call centres, and we increased access to our services in rural communities.

I would like to acknowledge the tremendous work that Service Canada employees across the country performed during this challenging period. Through their tireless efforts, they ensured that Service Canada's level and quality of service did not suffer, despite the significant increase in demand for benefits and other services.

In the years to come, Service Canada will continue to develop partnerships, improve the way it delivers services, further advance accountability and transparency, and build trust. Feedback is crucial when providing services, and we will continue to rely on Canadians' compliments, complaints, and suggestions to maintain our citizen-centred approach to service.

Diane Finley, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

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