The members of our Board of Governors are always (of course) responsible and conscientious, but over the next few months they will be particularly busy - and that's because our staff will be working full tilt producing interim and final reports in our current projects.
The Board usually meets every two months, July and August excepted. Now they are meeting at least once a month and sometimes twice for two hours at a time. They may also need to meet for between an hour and an hour and a half first thing in the morning in order to complete their review of final reports.
In addition to the reports, we have introduced a new element into their consideration of project documents, to ensure some familiarity before they review final reports. Following release of an interim report, we are taking time for the head of project to go over the report with the Board. This will obviously allow comments to be taken into account as the project head drafts the final report, but it also should mean that the Board will have a head start when they consider the final report for approval, even if feedback on the interim report has resulted in major revisions. These are lengthy interim and final reports, since they are all in projects that go beyond legislative review to look at "law in context". (Not that reports dealing with legislative reform are all "short" - see the final report in the Modernization of the Provincial Offences Act which the Board reviewed over four meetings).
Since we are starting our new mandate, we are also reviewing our policies and developing new ones. The Board has already approved a new Strategic Plan for 2012-2016 over two meetings. They have looked at a new Accessibility Policy and will be reviewing a new Use of Information, Privacy and Confidentiality Policy this week.
Here's how all this plays out in practice. At its January meeting, the Board approved the new Strategic Plan for approval (having considered it at the November meeting in draft) and a first draft of the new accessibility policy - two other items were deferred because of time. At its meeting this week, it will be presented with the Budget for 2012-2013 for approval, a draft privacy policy and a project proposal (both for first consideration) and one of the items remaining from January. There is also a second meeting scheduled for February.
In March and April, the Board will be asked to approve the draft final report in the older adults meeting at two meetings, with more meetings added if necessary and at another March meeting will take a good look at the interim report in the family project. In April, members will have the interim report in the project relating to persons with disabilities before them for discussion, presented by the head of project. In June and July, they will be asked to approve the final report in that project. In July, as well, they will see the final report in the family project, with two meetings scheduled and more if necessary. In September, they'll see the interim report in the vulnerable workers project, and the final report in late November and early December.
Add to this other policies and project approvals, as well as those issues that arise as we go along, and the term "(hard) working Board" is apropos.
By the beginning of 2013, we should be back to a more regular and manageable schedule - and the same for staff. Although some of our lawyers will be able to breathe a little easier by the summer, our admin staff will be working hard to make sure that all the "behind the scenes" work in releasing final reports goes well, as well as the release itself.
So, a huge thank you in advance (or in the midst is more accurate) to our Board members for their commitment and thoughtful consideration of all the work our staff produce - to them and to our staff I say, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Even when we know that this is the work at the core of the LCO's existence, it can seem rather overwhelming.
I am grateful to be working with Board members and staff who recognize that all the effort is more than compensated by the result.
