David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks Sylvie Nadeau should consider running as an Independent in the upcoming by-election in her neighbourhood I trust that she could teach Higgy et al a thing or two about ethical conduct N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/04/former-head-of-library-service-alleges.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/kevin-cormier-new-brunswick-library-executive-director-trevor-holder-1.5639313
Head of public library service resigns after controversy over qualifications
Kevin Cormier's suitability as executive director of province's 64 public libraries questioned from Day 1
· CBC News · Posted: Jul 06, 2020 5:07 PM AT
Kevin Cormier resigned Monday as executive director of the New Brunswick Public Library Service. (Kevin Cormier/Facebook)
Kevin Cormier's controversial appointment as the executive director of the provincial public library service ended Monday with his resignation.
Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Trevor Holder, who is responsible for libraries, made the announcement during a short-notice, late afternoon conference call.
Cormier "feels that this, with all of the uncertainty that's happened … is in the best interests of the library system and the people that work within the libraries, and the best decision for himself," Holder told reporters.
But Cormier is not leaving government. He will return to the Executive Council Office, where he was prior to this appointment, and will be working in marketing and communications, Holder said.
The government's decision to put Cormier in charge of the province's 64 public libraries in February, despite an apparent lack of library training or experience, has been the focus of a widespread public discussion since CBC News reported on his appointment.
"Then we will post the job again moving forward and we'll take time to make sure that we get it right."
Although the job that pays up to nearly $114,000 a year was originally posted as an open competition, Cormier was appointed to the position through the corporate talent management program.
It provides current and aspiring executives in the upper pay bands of government with opportunities to further develop their competencies within or outside their current department.
Labour Minister Trevor Holder announced Cormier's resignation during a conference call. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
In March, amid accusations of political patronage, Holder announced a review of the program, but it was put on hold "for a considerable period of time" because of the COVID-19 crisis, he said Monday.
The review has now been completed and a report is being sent to the government for a response, which Holder expects within days.
"I look forward to hearing what the outcome and recommendations are as a result of that review," he said.
Asked whether the timing of the report is related to Cormier's resignation, Holder said they're "completely separate issues entirely."
'Distraction' not fair to staff, public
Cormier could not immediately be reached for comment.But he did email a memo Monday to library staff, a copy of which has been obtained by CBC News.
"I know my joining the team has, at times, been a distraction due to the public attention and speculation my appointment has garnered.
"While I have hoped to be able to move past this and demonstrate what we can do together, it has become clear that is not likely possible. This is not fair to you or the people we serve," he wrote.
"I have nothing but the utmost respect for you all, for what [the library service] provides to New Brunswickers and for what it stands for."
Master's degree was listed as 'essential'
The job posting listed "essential qualifications" as a master's degree in library and/or information studies from an American Library Association-accredited program, as well as a minimum of eight years of related work experience.Cormier's LinkedIn profile lists his education as a single year at York University's Schulich School of Business in Toronto in 2005 and two years at the Moncton Flight College, from 1998 to 2000.
Prior to working in the Executive Council Office, he was the chief executive officer of Kings Landing Corporation, the historical settlement near Fredericton, for about seven years.
Holder could not say whether Cormier applied or was asked to apply to be head of the province's library system. He reiterated he wasn't involved in the process.
I think going forward it's going to be very clear that the degree will be part of the qualifications.
- Trevor Holder, minister in charge of library service"I wasn't part of the conversation that obviously that led to the talent management program being used. That was a decision of the department of human resources in conjunction with the deputy minister of my department at the time," he said.
"I suspect we will find out through that review process whether or not this was in fact an appropriate use of the talent management program."
Holder said it will be up to his department and human resources to decide upon the criteria for the new executive director, but "it's been pretty clear through this process that there certainly have been some calls for someone with the appropriate degree background."
"I think going forward it's going to be very clear that the degree will be part of the qualifications."
'Take their time'
He suspects they will "take their time" filling the position."That would be certainly my encouragement, to take their time to get this right, to make sure that we get the best qualified person to take the libraries into the next generation," he said.
"That has been the goal all along, to modernize our library system and to make sure that we have an accessible, dynamic library system in New Brunswick."
Predecessor pleased
Cormier's predecessor, Sylvie Nadeau, who served as the provincial librarian and executive director for 20 years until her retirement in December, was pleased to hear Holder's comments."I would like to thank and congratulate the minister and the premier for making this commitment and recognizing the importance of the position and of the required qualifications," she said.
In April, Nadeau had called on Premier Blaine Higgs to order an in-depth independent review of Cormier's "incomprehensible" appointment and the "profoundly flawed" process.
Sylvie Nadeau, who led the provincial library service for 20 years until her retirement in December, wrote to every municipal council in the province where a library is located, urging them to write the premier to request an independent review of Cormier's appointment. (Submitted by Sylvie Nadeau)
She said she knows of at least two "highly qualified" and fluently bilingual internal candidates who were interviewed for the job.
They both hold a master's degree in library and/or information studies, have up to 20 years of experience at high levels of management and are fluently bilingual, she said.
Eleven people applied for the job, government officials have said, but they declined to reveal whether any of them were interviewed, or to disclose any information about their qualifications, citing privacy.
"New Brunswick Public Library Service is an important branch of government overseeing and managing the strategic development and day-to-day operation of the network of 64 public libraries in the province, including its virtual services. It must be led by a person with the required competencies," said Nadeau.
No reply to RTIs
She has not yet received responses to her Right to Information Act requests to the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour and to the Department of Finance and Treasury Board about the recruitment process.She wants to know who wrote the ad when the job was initially posted as a competition last fall, who approved the ad, who selected the candidates to be interviewed, and who conducted the interviews.
Holder said he doesn't understand the controversy.
"I don't ever remember a human resource issue with this much attention in my 20 years in public life," he said.
"This was a civil servant that had served in a number of capacities and was moving on to another one. It was as simple as that."
Cormier was appointed only a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but "there were certainly no concerns from within the department about the work he was doing at all," said Holder.
"I know this has been a very trying time for Mr. Cormier and his family," he said, adding that he wishes him well.
Cormier said in his memo he'll be returning to the Executive Council Office, effective July 13.
"I joined the civil service more that 15 years ago to do my part to help make New Brunswick a better place and that remains my objective today," he wrote.
He will "continue to use and support" the library service, he added.
127 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Too Too Funny
"Holder said he doesn't understand the controversy."
Welcome to the circus
David Stairs
this guy is not qualified for any of the so called positions he has been in..so what is he holding over these other clowns and who may they be ...something smells
David Amos
Reply to @David
Stairs: Methinks he knows where to get the best butter tarts in Fat Fred
City for Higgy et al to partake of during their secret meetings N'esy
Pas?
David Amos
Methinks Sylvie Nadeau should consider running as an Independent in the upcoming by-election in her neighbourhood I trust that she could teach Higgy et al a thing or two about ethical conduct and perseverance N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
I suspect Cormier realized he was in over his head when people started using words with more than 4 letters in them and he had to use a Dictionary constantly. I'm sure Melanson could find him an appointment as a pah pett somewhere that he and the Shediac 5 can control, the Liberals are known for that. Just take a look at their leader !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks Higgy's minions write comical things Nesy Pas?
Cormier wrote:
"I joined the civil service more that 15 years ago to do my part to help make New Brunswick a better place and that remains my objective today,"
Cormier wrote:
"I joined the civil service more that 15 years ago to do my part to help make New Brunswick a better place and that remains my objective today,"
Corrie Weatherfield
Trained librarians have a lot of special jargon I'm sure just like auto mechanics or oil well technicians would have. I thought from the start that the librarians, without being openly aggressive, could easily attend meetings with him and talk what would to him be a foreign language. After a few cycles like that he would soon realize he could hardly manage or direct or even report back to his own bosses if he had no idea what was being discussed.
David Amos
Reply to @Corrie Weatherfield: Methinks old motorcycle mechanics such as I are in class by ourselves particularly when it comes to the employment of special jargon N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Corrie Weatherfield: BTW Why did you change your ID?
Al Clark
Reply to @David Amos: methunk perhaps the reason you change all of yours so frequently. naysay paws
David Amos
Reply to @Al Clark: I am David Amos and do not pretend to be anyone else like you obviously do
Al Clark
Reply to @David Amos: I am Al Clark, however I have seen David, Dave, David Raymond etc all with the same gandalf pic and the same surprise bla, welcome bla, my lawsuit bla, my daddy bla, , my panhead bla, fat fred's finest bla snippets over and over and over again. Say nay paw saw???
David Amos
Reply to @Al Clark: Need I say BS???
David White
Watch him come back as Tourism Minister or Minister of Health.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @David
White: For that to happen he would have to win an election first so I
think it more likely he comes back as a Deputy Minister or Assistant
Deputy Minister.
David
White
Reply to @Fred Brewer: SInce when did rules or common sense dictate anything in NB? :)
Fred Brewer
Reply to @David White: Agreed but this has nothing to do with a lack of common sense, it is election laws we are dealing with.
David Amos
Reply to @Fred Brewer: What laws???
David Amos
Reply to @David
White: Methinks common sense is a rare thing in politicking everywhere
Folks should never forget Harper appointing one of Mulroney's law firm
partners Michael Fortier as Public Works Minister in his first cabinet
N'esy Pas?
Harvey Edwards
I think that he was probably moved in to see what really was not happening to improve the libraries for the future, since all that were allowed to apply would have been indoctrinated into the expected methods to the operation rather than looking for any unknown possibilities that could have been valuable for everyone.
I hope his style and methods of efficiency are compared for any possible gains and maybe in the future someone like him will be brought in as a temporary skills training venture if there is room for an assistant once in a while.
Darrell Christie
Reply to @Harvey Edwards: Monetize the libraries ... sure.
eddy watts
Reply to @Harvey
Edwards: "I hope his style and methods of efficiency are
compared......". You actually think he was in the job (remember he had
absolutely no experience) long enough to develop style and efficiency?
He had 2 years of flight school!!!
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @eddy watts:
Can't you see a feeble attempt at positive spin when you see it?
Can't you see a feeble attempt at positive spin when you see it?
Harvey Edwards
Reply to @eddy watts:
So little has been given out that we have nothing to assume but his qualifications and so yes, he was in the job long enough to show some ability to understand the needs of his position without damaging more than the feelings of those who actually worked hard to attain the accreditation for the position.
He also is willing to step down and move on without the animosity you find in a lot of upper managers who don't rely on their workers knowledge.
So little has been given out that we have nothing to assume but his qualifications and so yes, he was in the job long enough to show some ability to understand the needs of his position without damaging more than the feelings of those who actually worked hard to attain the accreditation for the position.
He also is willing to step down and move on without the animosity you find in a lot of upper managers who don't rely on their workers knowledge.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Harvey Edwards: Spin much?
Rose Michaud
Reply to @Harvey
Edwards: This is a guy, who while managing Kings Landing, cut the
interactive programs that brought people to see the place, cut the gift
shop that made money, got rid of the collected works for the KL library
and suggested that they get bouncy castles. I don't have any faith that
he really had any good ideas.
Al Clark
Reply to @Rose Michaud: My guess is his only marketable skill is lack of gag reflex.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: I do
Mary Smith
You fought the good fight, Sylvie Nadeau.
David Amos
Reply to @Mary Smith: Yup
Jim Redmond
I appointed many people in leadership roles over the past four decades, and I went out of my way to NOT match their experience base with the function. For instance, I would put someone with an engineering management background in the HR VP role and someone with a plant management background in the Sales & Marketing VP role. My criteria was they had to be team-building leaders --- their background was irrelevant
Bob Smith
Reply to @Jim Redmond: Did your company go out of business? Most private enterprises don't conduct business like that ever...unless nepotism plays a role.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: Thats not usually a good idea. Qualifications and experience counts. Would you get on a plane if you knew the pilot had no qualifications or experience?
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim
Redmond: I would rather have an engineer who knew the work supervise me
if I was an engineer. Same thing for sales..putting someone with only HR
experience and apptitude in charge of a sales force is huge gamble imo.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim
Redmond: But she would have no idea about any technical or design
challenges an engineer would face, I would think. If someone with a
French Lit degree tried to coach me with my engineering projects, I
would always be suspicious it would be too holistic and not practical
enough for best interests. You may be doing the French Lit grad a
favour, but not the company or the employee in my view.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond:
I have direct experience with what you are talking about. I worked for
the largest clothing company in the world (at the time), Levi Strauss
& Co. 38,000 employees, $11B annual sales..extremely profitable. I
was a manager in sales and marketing and the US head office sent an HR
specialist to run sales and marketing nationally in Canada. They were
grooming her obviously. It was a disaster. She hired the wrong folks,
they did damage in the field that took years to recover from, she signed
us up for expensive upgrades that did nothing for our dept's sales and
marketing skills and constantly contradicted known marketing principles
due to her total lack of experience. Sales went down 2 years in a row
and she was replaced and moved on..but the damage was done. Our sales
people didnt not like taking marching orders from an HR specialist who
had no idea what the marketing dept's job was and there was some
resentment from them as well.
Jim
Redmond
Reply to @Tim
Biddiscombe: Interesting. There is never a guarantee of success. I once
had to appoint a VP of sales for a North American company. The sales
organization was in disarray and many very valuable sales people were on
the verge of quitting. So I appointed someone to the role who had never
managed a sales organization or even had been a sales person. He was a
construction manager who would do anything for his team. He turned the
sales organization around because he stood up for them and brought them
together as a team.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim
Redmond: Doesnt usually happen. Experience counts. Experimentation has
its place..but in a leadership role, its a dangerous a practice to
engage in very often.
Jim
Redmond
Reply to @Tim
Biddiscombe: Everyone has there own approach. I'm not disagreeing with
you. I just happen to have made a career out building leadership teams
by shaking up responsibilities so experience doesn't match function.
I've never viewed it as experimentation. I believe a leader's role is to
lead and motivate people, not to get involved in the work of his/her
direct reports. That approach has worked very well for me and the
organizations I've been with.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: "their"
Not with any I was involved with or any I've heard of, besides you. Putting someone with zero experience in charge of dept policy or function is gambling..big time. Should they fail, you would have to defend putting them in charge with no experience. Other factors you may be able to defend (general economic climate, poor product offering, etc..but not putting someone in charge with zero experience. I would only ever do that with senior management approval, not on my own because, as I said, if it fails, its indefencable otherwise.
Not with any I was involved with or any I've heard of, besides you. Putting someone with zero experience in charge of dept policy or function is gambling..big time. Should they fail, you would have to defend putting them in charge with no experience. Other factors you may be able to defend (general economic climate, poor product offering, etc..but not putting someone in charge with zero experience. I would only ever do that with senior management approval, not on my own because, as I said, if it fails, its indefencable otherwise.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: "their"
Not with any I was involved with or any I've heard of, besides you. Putting someone with zero experience in charge of dept policy or function is gambling..big time. Should they fail, you would have to defend putting them in charge wit
Not with any I was involved with or any I've heard of, besides you. Putting someone with zero experience in charge of dept policy or function is gambling..big time. Should they fail, you would have to defend putting them in charge wit
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Tim Biddiscombe: This post went to moderation for some reason:
Doesnt usually happen. Experience counts. Experimentation has its place..but in a leadership role, its a dangerous a practice to engage in very often in my opinion. The more technical the area, the more dangerous that practice becomes. Sounds like your contruction guy stood up for his folks but I have to wonder why the previous person didnt..
Doesnt usually happen. Experience counts. Experimentation has its place..but in a leadership role, its a dangerous a practice to engage in very often in my opinion. The more technical the area, the more dangerous that practice becomes. Sounds like your contruction guy stood up for his folks but I have to wonder why the previous person didnt..
Jim
Redmond
Reply to @Tim
Biddiscombe: I was senior management. And in the case of the
construction guy running sales, the CEO and Board of Directors had
complete confidence in me. I went through my entire career without
seeking approval of anything other than long-term corporate strategy and
mergers and acquisitions.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim
Redmond: Good for you. I think you got lucky with appointing people with
no practical experience in leadership roles and still see them and the
company have success. The product or service must have been very good
and in demand to survive long with such practices.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: What company was it, Jim?
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: Why wont you say who you worked for? You havent said anything any company would be upset about..
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim
Redmond: Ahhh..now I see. You came in when companies were in trouble as a
management consultant. So you didnt really work for a company as an
employee, just a consultant. If you came to me as a consultant and said
you wanted to put a French Lit person in charge of engineering, we would
have to have a talk about terminating your contract immediately and for
you not to look to us for references.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim
Redmond: We'll have to take your word for all that. I repeat..experience
counts, experimention is dangerous. When a company is failing, they
become desperate and will try almost anything..like hiring consultants.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim
Redmond: "The CEOs who contracted with me gave me total authority."
<-- a="" an="" and="" authority="" been="" desperate="" give="" have="" in="" mess="" must="" outsider="" span="" terrible="" they="" to="" total="">
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: I've told you the reasons why.
Jim
Redmond
Reply to @Tim
Biddiscombe: I was an outsider, but I knew them and they knew me, the
results I had achieved with other organizations, and my high integrity
approach.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: How well could you really know them ..just getting dropped in like that?
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: yawn
John Smith
Reply to @Tim Biddiscombe:
You’re wasting your time talking to a failure whose whole life is a fabrication, it’s all his imagination.
You’re wasting your time talking to a failure whose whole life is a fabrication, it’s all his imagination.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @John Smith: Seems like. He talks big tho ;)
Jim
Redmond
Reply to @Tim
Biddiscombe: Give me a break. I've know senior leaders and Board members
for a long time, so it's not exactly a stretch for them to entrust
their organization with me. That's the way business works.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim
Redmond: Its not the way any business I was involved with did business.
Putting people in charge with no experience is almost silly.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: LS & Co would never hire you with advice like that, you can be assured.
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: Consider yourself called out..
Tim Biddiscombe
Reply to @Jim Redmond: And the Library Board seems to agree with me and not you ;)
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Jim
Redmond: Experience gets instant respect and leaders need respect. I
have seen managers appointed that had no experience and the result was
that morale plummeted and productivity suffered. The only thing that
kept us going was laughing behind the manager's back and making jokes.
Your strategy may have worked once, but I would say it was sheer luck.
Your strategy was applied with Mr. Cormier and it sure as heck did not
work.
Steve Bowden
Reply to @John Smith: Fibbing Jimmy at his finest.
Al Clark
Reply to @Jim
Redmond: LOLOL Having read many of your posts I can only see you
upgrading someone from patty grill to shift 'manager'
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Tim Biddiscombe: "Consider yourself called out.."
Methinks the same holds true for you when you attacked me a couple of months ago N'esy Pas?
Reply to @Tim Biddiscombe: "Consider yourself called out.."
Methinks the same holds true for you when you attacked me a couple of months ago N'esy Pas?
Mike Sampson
We need someone who knows the Dewey Decimal System to run this group. Long live the Communist Broadcasting Corp. :-)
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Mike Sampson: A Capitalist Broadcasting Corp! That would be something to worry about.
David Amos
Reply to @Jos Allaire: Oh My My
Matt Steele
Sounds like there might be a fall election in the air , and Premier Higgs is trying to clean up some of the messes that his Cabinet Ministers made . No doubt Mr.Cormier was shown the door , but he will land in another high paying govt. position with Trevor Holder's help .....and on it goes . Premier Higgs has done an extremely good job in managing N.B. through some very difficult times , but he really needs to take a look at some of his Cabinet Ministers who have needlessly involved the PC party in some of these issues
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Matt Steele:
What does a leader of a provincial political party do when everyone elected under his party banner isn't fit to varnish paper cups?
Exactly what we are seeing.
What does a leader of a provincial political party do when everyone elected under his party banner isn't fit to varnish paper cups?
Exactly what we are seeing.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Yup
Jos Allaire
He can go fly a kite. He's qualified for that.
David Amos
Reply to @Jos Allaire: How can you be so sure???
Lou Bell
Thankfully he used his two years of pilot training and flew the heck outta there !
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Lou Bell: Major embarrassment for the CONservatives, eh Lou?
Ben Hague
Reply to @Jos Allaire: It was a Con job !
Jos Allaire
Reply to @Ben Hague: Yup!
David Amos
Reply to @Jos Allaire: i concur
John Grail
I wonder how much severance hr will be given.
David Amos
Reply to @John Grail: Good question
Jack Straw
This whole thing is a joke and our joker Premier has the audacity to tell us we need a new way of thinking in NB. Nothing but a complete farce.
David Amos
Reply to @Jack Straw:
Methinks I duly informed the folks long ago to enjoy the circus we are
paying for because we get the governments we deserve N'esy Pas?
Joseph Vacher
he should also pay back the money he didn't deserve from his last appointment (kings landing). Which he was hired by the same person that gave him this job that he is not qualified for
David Amos
Reply to @Joseph Vacher: Dream on
Kyle Woodman
He’s not qualified to work at ECO either. What about Yennah Hurley at Tourism? She’s not qualified to be a Deputy Minister. Time to clear house. The auditor general should to an accounting of credentials within GNB and see what shakes out.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Kyle Woodman:
Next stop NB Power, or one of the Health Authorities................. I hear there might be suitable upper management patronage jobs opening up there.
Next stop NB Power, or one of the Health Authorities................. I hear there might be suitable upper management patronage jobs opening up there.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Sad but true
ANNE MILLAR
This is very good news indeed. A patronage appointment to a high paying job may not look quite so attractive to a completely unqualified person with all the challenges Covid19 and post Covid19 bring. I am sorry that Mr Higgs and his government were unable to admit that this appointment was a mistake.
Jos Allaire
Reply to @ANNE MILLAR: Not sorry for them at all! They are all incompetents.
ANNE MILLAR
Reply to @Jos
Allaire: I regret, perhaps is a better choice of words. I regret that
the original appointment was made and that no one has accepted
responsibility for making such a bad decision.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @ANNE MILLAR:
In other words: a pandemic of selective memory?
In other words: a pandemic of selective memory?
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks selective memory is a common affliction that is as old as peoplekind N'esy Pas?
Jeff LeBlanc
Wow...a sliver of integrity in NB politics. Never thought I'd see the day.
Joseph Vacher
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: we assume, im sure there is more to the story as to why he resigned
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @Joseph
Vacher: irrelevant IMO, he could have stayed and he didn't. That's all
that matters. Had he stayed or tried to sue for wrongful dismissal I'd
change my tune.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc:
Wait a minute. It would be "integrity in NB politics" if our government simply kicked him to the curb. With him resigning, it becomes a matter of "personal integrity", and NOTHING to do with our government.
No matter how you choose to slice this our government looks bad.
Wait a minute. It would be "integrity in NB politics" if our government simply kicked him to the curb. With him resigning, it becomes a matter of "personal integrity", and NOTHING to do with our government.
No matter how you choose to slice this our government looks bad.
Dan Stewart
Reply to @Jeff
LeBlanc: A sliver of integrity? At best a bad decision hopefully made
right and probably a "decision" made with the help of the same people
who put him there in the first place.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: I agree
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
"Content disabled"
Methinks its just par for the course thats why the other party leaders won't comment on the issue N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/04/former-head-of-library-service-alleges.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/library-new-brunswick-kevin-cormier-sylvie-nadeau-higgs-review-1.5535123
Performance of new library service exec will be reviewed as part of job probation
Review of government program that appointed Kevin Cormier on hold due to COVID-19, says premier's office
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 16, 2020 9:21 PM AT
Kevin Cormier was appointed the executive director of the New Brunswick Public Library Service, effective Feb. 18. (Kevin Cormier/Facebook)
A spokesperson for the premier's office says Kevin Cormier's performance as the new head of New Brunswick's public library service will be assessed when his probationary period ends.
Nicolle Carlin made the statement in response to a letter former provincial librarian and executive director Sylvie Nadeau sent to Premier Blaine Higgs, describing Cormier's appointment as "incomprehensible," given his apparent lack of library training or experience.
Nadeau called on Higgs to order an in-depth independent review of the controversial appointment and "profoundly flawed" process, alleging the wording of the job posting was designed to let the province replace her with a non-librarian.
The premier has received Nadeau's letter and "will speak with her privately," said Carlin.
But in an emailed statement to CBC News, Carlin suggested managers don't necessarily need to be subject experts.
"They supply that expertise and advise management to assist with the decision-making process," she said.
"Management and the library staff are expected to work together to ensure the best possible service is provided to New Brunswickers."
Cormier was put in charge of the province's 64 public libraries in February, a position that comes with an annual salary of nearly $114,000.
At least 2 'highly qualified' candidates
His LinkedIn profile lists his education as a single year at York University's Schulich School of Business in Toronto (2005) and two years at the Moncton Flight College (1998-2000).He spent the past year at the government's Executive Council Office, previously served seven years as the CEO of Kings Landing historical settlement near Fredericton, and has worked in various other roles in the public service over the past 15 years.
Nadeau, who led the provincial library service for 20 years until her retirement at the end of December, said she knows of at least two "highly qualified" internal candidates who were interviewed to replace her.
Sylvie Nadeau said educational qualifications and library management experience are 'vital to the advocacy role necessary for public library development in changing times.' (Submitted by Sylvie Nadeau)
They both hold a master's degree in library and/or information studies, have up to 20 years' experience at high levels of management and are fluently bilingual, she said.
Eleven people applied for the job, government officials have said, but they declined to reveal whether any of them were interviewed, or to disclose any information about their qualifications, citing privacy.
Cormier was appointed to the post through the Corporate Talent Management Program under the Civil Service Act.
The program provides current and aspiring executives in the upper pay bands with opportunities to further develop their competencies within or outside their current department.
Talent program review 'on hold'
Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder, who is responsible for the public library service, last month publicly committed to a review of the program.But that has been put "on hold," like many other files, as the civil service is reduced to essential workers only during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Carlin.
It will still take place, she said.
Carlin did not indicate when Cormier's probationary period ends, but the minimum is usually six months, according to the staffing policy posted on the government's website.
If that applies to Cormier, his probation would end in August.
In her letter to the premier, Nadeau said the appointment of a person who is not a professional librarian and who has no experience in the "business of developing and managing public libraries and public library systems is incomprehensible and unacceptable."
'Demoralizing and frightening message'
"It also sends an incredibly demoralizing and frightening message to anyone working within NBPLS at the moment as well as to the public," she wrote."Those who are born and bred in New Brunswick as well as those who moved here believing it was worth their time to invest their energy in a career in the New Brunswick public library system and within the Government of New Brunswick may now have doubt about their choice."
Nadeau also said the appointment gave her "grave concerns that this might be the new way that the government is going to fill positions anywhere in government in the future: by manipulating the recruitment ads (beyond their officially approved requirements) to 'tailoring' them in order to facilitate particular agendas, political appointments, favouritism, friendships, and what else."
Minimum requirements set 10 years ago
The ad published last fall did not meet the qualifications and level of experience laid out in the government's own position description questionnaire, known as a PDQ, when the position was classified at pay band level nine about a decade ago, she said.The minimum requirements in that document are: "MLIS (master of library and/or information studies) with 9 years of progressive experience, including management and supervision of library operation. Knowledge of large network library system is essential."
But the ad listed "essential qualifications" as a master's degree with a minimum of eight years of related work experience, "including at least three (3) years of management experience in a complex operational environment involving responsibility for human and financial resources.
"A combination of education, training and experience may be considered," the ad said.
"By removing the 'library management' experience component, and adding the broader wording and the equivalency clause, it opened the door to all kinds of interpretations to allow a wide range of equivalencies," argued Nadeau.
She suggested the review should cover the writing and approval of the ad, the screening of candidates, the interviews, the composition of the panel that conducted the interviews to ensure there were no conflicts of interest, the linguistic assessments, the use of the Corporate Talent Management Program to appoint Cormier, as well as the appointment itself.
69 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story. eddy watts
Im sure the Premier's office will be fair to Kevy.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @eddy watts:
Of course Methinks its just par for the course thats why the other
party leaders won't comment on the issue N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
And another unqualified patronage appointee fills a job position that SHOULD have been filled by someone with at least a few of the qualities the job should entail ! This is an has been why NB has been at the bottom of the list annually in any significant ratings of Canadian Provinces ! Only in NB does patheticism reward patheticism !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you got the government you deserve N'esy Pas?
Tanner Smith
Any fool can cut costs. Building value takes skill. I would rather not participate in the race to the bottom and neither should you.
Mark Curran
Reply to @Tanner Smith: not any fool can manage people tho
David Amos
Reply to @Mark Curran: Methinks Higgy versus his former Deputy Premier are proof of that pudding N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks Higgy didn't hire Carlin with the same reasoning N'esy Pas?
"But in an emailed statement to CBC News, Carlin suggested managers don't necessarily need to be subject experts.
"Like many organizations, the New Brunswick Library Service has a wealth of professional and dedicated people who serve as subject matter experts in their field."
Mark
Curran
Reply to @David Amos: translation : he wasnt hired to be a librarian
Mark Curran
The library was run by a librarian for 20 years and its garbage. Time for some new blood with fresh ideas for a dying industry
Jacob Minton
Reply to @Mark
Curran: Nothing dying about books and reading (except for NB's literacy
rates being abysmal). Lot of people use the library service.
Mark
Curran
Reply to @Jacob Minton: and many more just google it
Lou Bell
Assessed by who ?? This is nothing more than a patronage appointment , nothing less !!
René Ephestion
Reply to @Lou Bell: he'll be evaluated by the same person who put him in the job, Dan Mills.
Samual Johnston
Fire him now and there will be a lawsuit...unless he can be shuffled to another job equal or better pay.
John Grail
Reply to @Samual
Johnston: You don't need grounds to fire within the probation period.
Interesting that they are going to review his performance AFTER this
period is over...
René Ephestion
Reply to @John Grail: he'll be evaluated by the same person who put him in the job, Dan Mills.
Terry Tibbs
Somebody high up in government is championing this cause. You can help but think Kevin Cormier is either: closely related to somebody, or has "the goods" on somebody, for this to continue long past when it should have stopped.
Lauchlin Murray
The contortions people are performing to accommodate that poor decision is second only to a Cirque du Soleil show.
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Speaking of fear and loathing during a purported pandemic in in the Maritimes methinks Higgy doesn't need enemies with Little Lou and Rotten Ray for fans N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/04/former-head-of-library-service-alleges.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-library-executive-director-ad-sylvie-nadeau-letter-1.5531550
Former head of library service alleges job ad worded so non-librarian could fill post
Sylvie Nadeau calls on Premier Blaine Higgs to review controversial appointment of Kevin Cormier
CBC News · Posted: Apr 14, 2020 5:32 PM AT
Sylvie Nadeau served as provincial librarian and executive director of the New Brunswick Public Library Service for 20 years until her retirement at the end of December. (Submitted by Sylvie Nadeau)
The former head of New Brunswick's Public Library Service has written a letter to Premier Blaine Higgs, alleging the wording of the ad for her position was designed to let the province replace her with a non-librarian.
Sylvie Nadeau, who served as the provincial librarian and executive director for 20 years until her retirement at the end of December, said she recently returned from a two-month vacation in Spain and learned Kevin Cormier was put in charge of the province's 64 public libraries, despite an apparent lack of library training or experience.
"As a citizen, this appointment gives me grave concerns that this might be the new way that the government is going to fill positions anywhere in government in the future: by manipulating the recruitment ads (beyond their officially approved requirements) to 'tailoring' them in order to facilitate particular agendas, political appointments, favouritism, friendships, and what else," she wrote.
Nadeau said she knows of at least two "highly qualified" internal candidates who were interviewed for the job, which comes with an annual salary of up to nearly $114,000.
Appointment 'flawed'
She is calling on the premier to order an in-depth independent review of the "profoundly flawed" recruitment process, including the writing and approval of the ad, the screening of candidates, the interviews, the composition of the panel that conducted the interviews, the linguistic assessment, the use of the Corporate Talent Management Program to appoint Cormier, as well as the appointment itself.
Higgs could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
The Department of Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour, which the public library service falls under, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Nadeau said the executive director ad published by the government last fall did not meet the qualifications and level of experience laid out in the position description questionnaire, known as a PDQ, that was submitted and approved by the office of human resource's classification committee when the position was classified at pay band level nine about 10 years ago.
Kevin Cormier was appointed the executive director of the New Brunswick Public Library Service, effective Feb. 18. (Kevin Cormier/Facebook)
The minimum requirements in that document are: "MLIS (master of library and/or information studies) with 9 years of progressive experience, including management and supervision of library operation. Knowledge of large network library system is essential."
But the job posting stipulated a master's degree in library and/or information studies from an American Library Association-accredited program, "with a minimum of (8) years of progressively responsible related work experience, including at least three (3) years of management experience in a complex operational environment involving responsibility for human and financial resources. A combination of education, training and experience may be considered."
Whoever directed this must have felt quite powerful, untouchable and invincible to think this would go unnoticed and unchallenged.
- Sylvie Nadeau, retired executive director of provincial library service
"By
removing the 'library management' experience component, and adding the
broader wording and the equivalency clause, it opened the door to all
kinds of interpretations to allow a wide range of equivalencies," said
Nadeau.
"This obviously
had a direct impact on the screening process to select the candidates
who would be invited to an interview. As a next step, it allowed the
appointment of a candidate without a master of library and/or
information studies and the library management experience."
Nadeau questioned why the wording of the ad would "stray so far" from the qualifications described in the approved PDQ.
"This had to be intentional. But again why? What was the agenda behind this?
"Whoever
directed this must have felt quite powerful, untouchable and invincible
to think this would go unnoticed and unchallenged."
'Incomprehensible'
Nadeau
said she felt duty-bound to write to Higgs to alert him to the
situation and give him the opportunity to "correct this unfair,
unjustifiable and incomprehensible decision."
"As
the retired provincial librarian/executive director, I see it as a
misguided disrespect to the public and against a profession and
generations of professional librarians and library staff who have built
New Brunswick Public Library Service," she wrote.
The
legacy of generations of professional librarians who managed the public
library system to make it what it is today have been "trampled on."
Nadeau
contends the classification of the position would never have been
approved as a pay band level nine if the description of the
qualifications in the PDQ had not indicated the necessity of a master's
degree in library and/or information studies as well as nine years of
progressive experience, including management and supervision of library
operation.
"From an
administrative point of view, once approved, the position description
questionnaires are to be used to create job specifications ('specs'),
job descriptions and recruitment ads. All these documents work together
and are supposed to be aligned," she wrote. "This is how it is supposed
to work."
Labour Minister Trevor Holder has declined to discuss Cormier's qualifications, instead asking New Brunswickers to give him 'time to prove himself.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Based
on media reports, Cormier does not even have the basic qualifications
to be considered for a library manager position of a small library at a
pay band level two, said Nadeau, "because these positions require at
least a bachelor's degree."
Cormier's
LinkedIn profile lists his education as a single year at York
University's Schulich School of Business in Toronto in 2005 and two
years at the Moncton Flight College, from 1998 to 2000.
Nadeau
said she knows at least three "talented" professional librarians who
have been working within New Brunswick Public Library Service in senior
management roles for many years were considering applying for the
position because they asked if they could put her name as a reference.
At
least two of them were interviewed for the position, but she did not
receive any call to provide a reference for any of them, she said.
Cormier was appointed the head of the library service through the Corporate Talent Management Program,
which provides current and aspiring executives in the upper pay
bands with opportunities to further develop their competencies within or
outside their current department.
"This
program, to my knowledge, was not designed or intended to be used to
appoint unqualified candidates to positions," wrote Nadeau.
"However,
I have to point out that I believe that its design opened the door to
this type of abuse." She cited the small number of government
employees registered in the program.
Talent program under scrutiny
The government is reviewing the program,
Post-Secondary Education, Training an Labour Minister Trevor Holder
announced in the legislature last month in response to questions
from Green Party Leader David Coon, who said he was "appalled" by the
appointment of Cormier.
"It has been used throughout the years to move people around throughout government and that's exactly what happened here," Holder said.
"Now having said that, I understand there's some public concern here, and that's why the premier [and] myself have spoken to the Department of Human Resources and we're actually currently having a review of the talent management program just to make sure that it does what it's supposed to do.
"And if there can be any improvements made to that program, we will do that."
60 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
My hat is off to Sylvie Nadeau for speaking up
David Amos
WOW Methinks what went "Poof" is a telling thing like the sound of silence in a Police State N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks Higgy's and everybody else's hat should be off to Sylvie Nadeau for speaking up N'esy Pas?
Joe Bolton
Someone needs to be removed from office for being totally dishonest!
David Amos
Reply to @Joe Bolton: Methinks many would agree that more than one person needs to be removed ASAP N'esy Pas?
Joe Bolton
Reply to @David Amos: Many .
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Joe Bolton: Amos for Premier! Drain the swamp!
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks Higgy should have rid himself of snakes such you before you embarrassed him too much I doubt the RCMP will be much help to him now so no doubt I will have to sue them to find out who your truly are N'esy Pas?
William Nelson
Ahh, yes, the Maritimes. This is heard of!
Loved the beauty, but loathed the B...S.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @William Nelson: This kind of thing only happens here?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @William Nelson: Methinks you must live on the moon if you don't think there is just as much BS where you are N'esy Pas?
Reply to @William Nelson: Methinks you must live on the moon if you don't think there is just as much BS where you are N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @William Nelson: Speaking of fear and loathing during a purported pandemic in in the Maritimes methinks Higgy doesn't need enemies with Little Lou and Rotten Ray for fans N'esy Pas?
Reply to @William Nelson: Speaking of fear and loathing during a purported pandemic in in the Maritimes methinks Higgy doesn't need enemies with Little Lou and Rotten Ray for fans N'esy Pas?
John Smith
Yes, Blaine will make changes as soon as he hires all his friends, political and otherwise. Lets not forget about his Irving hires and the neighbor from Quispamsis that all got $100,000 jobs. .
Lou Bell
Reply to @John Smith: Twice !
Ray Oliver
Reply to @John Smith:
Its hardly ever been based on what you know so much as who you know.
This is rampant in all employment sectors. No surprise here whatsoever.
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Say Hey to Higgy for me will ya?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Cry me a river Methinks Higgy is still your hero N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Got him on the line right now, he says "Hey" back.. the Medicare card's in the mail keep an eye out!
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks your buddy Higgy won't find that even remotely funny N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: He was laughing so hard he had to hang the phone up. Oh Higgy you kill me every time!!
Lou Bell
Hiring an unqualified person who was terrible at their last management job usually doesn't qualify them for another management job ! Apparently patheticism rewards patheticism !!
David News
Reply to @Lou Bell: Apparently whining and complaining puts smiles on peoples faces. Go figure
t c
Reply to @Lou Bell: you would be an expert on, on unqualified
David Amos
Reply to @t c: aka Ye With No Name
Methinks that may be the understatement of the year N'esy Pas/
Methinks that may be the understatement of the year N'esy Pas/
Lou Bell
Content disabled
This is the same process used to illegally award a Liquor outlet on the Hanwell to a NON EXISTENT Convenience store !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There were parameters to be met and somehow THE NON EXISTENT convenience store was awarded the outlet ahaead of ALL OTHER APPLICANTS !!!!!!!!!!!!
Melissa MacDonald
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: who were the other applicants
Reply to @Lou Bell: who were the other applicants
Lou Bell
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Scholtens on the Hanwell ! Certainly well qualified !! The people who were awarded the outlet were well establihed in Grahams Government ! Political Patonage 101 by all meanings of the word !!!
Reply to @Lou Bell: Scholtens on the Hanwell ! Certainly well qualified !! The people who were awarded the outlet were well establihed in Grahams Government ! Political Patonage 101 by all meanings of the word !!!
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you need to get your facts straight N'esy Pas?
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you need to get your facts straight N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Melissa MacDonald: Trust that I know
Reply to @Melissa MacDonald: Trust that I know
t c
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: you think that you know so much, making comments on everything that's in the news on how it should be done, so step up and fix the world's problems !! Mouth peice!!
Reply to @Lou Bell: you think that you know so much, making comments on everything that's in the news on how it should be done, so step up and fix the world's problems !! Mouth peice!!
William Nelson
Content disabled
Reply to @Lou Bell: one exclamation mark works.
Reply to @Lou Bell: one exclamation mark works.
William Nelson
Content disabled
Reply to @t c: they gave it to an unqualified candidate.
Reply to @t c: they gave it to an unqualified candidate.
Ray Oliver
Content disabled
Reply to @Melissa MacDonald: Dont trust anything he knows. The man thinks his cows were killed by laser beams. I wish I was kidding
Reply to @Melissa MacDonald: Dont trust anything he knows. The man thinks his cows were killed by laser beams. I wish I was kidding
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks even Higgy must be embarrassed by your nonsense by now N'esy Pas?
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks even Higgy must be embarrassed by your nonsense by now N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Content disabled
Reply to @t c: I'm not here to rip on the grammatical errors of the writer like the guy over on the Power Outages in SJ region does on a daily basis I know that
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks you friends are going "Poof" N'esy Pas?
Brian Robertson
Content disabled
Well, if a part time drama teacher can be Prime Minister, that pretty much throws the door wide open for any other government jobs.
Les Cooper
Content disabled
Reply to @Brian Robertson: Look where that got us!!
Reply to @Brian Robertson: Look where that got us!!
Melissa MacDonald
Content disabled
Reply to @Brian Robertson: anyone can be a prime minister, its a popularity contest.
Reply to @Brian Robertson: anyone can be a prime minister, its a popularity contest.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Melissa MacDonald: Oh So True but you need the crooked dudes in the backrooms to support you first
Reply to @Melissa MacDonald: Oh So True but you need the crooked dudes in the backrooms to support you first
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Les Cooper: Cry me a river
Reply to @Les Cooper: Cry me a river
June Arnott
Nice to see someone who has experience calling out the government on this. Fishy things always going on.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @June Arnott: Maybe someday you will learn to read instead of making fun of people EH?
Reply to @June Arnott: Maybe someday you will learn to read instead of making fun of people EH?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @June Arnott: Do Tell
Do you enjoy my blog and Tweeter account as much as your friend Ray does?
John Grail
Reply to @June Arnott: There are fishy things in every government. "That government is best which governs least."
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