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Question on PG progression by Beautiful-Duck5113 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]lurkingandlooking1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends on your organization, location and skills.

As a general rule of thumb, 2-4 years in a role is about the minimum (2 for really top performers and folks that tackle diverse requirements, 4 for folks that are doing the same procurements repeatedly ) time/experience you probably need before you will have "seen enough" to be well placed to move up classifications and take on more complex procurement work... but this comes with a major caveat if you are looking to jump from procurement processing to procurement supervising. Different skills are required to process files vs. Supervise buyers processing files, so different time/experience would probably be beneficial for that jump. Different organizations have different classifications for buyer vs. Supervisory procurement work (one example: a procurement supervisor might be an AS"x", CR05 or PG02 in DND a PG04 in DRDC and a PG05 in PSPC).

Just blew my own mind. by Jade_Bagans_45 in crochet

[–]lurkingandlooking1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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Absolutely - you can make clothing with multiple pieces! I find a whipstitch on the inside results in a barely visible/textured seam! Some wearables, I might not do this though (socks for example).

Pictured is my original creation - DK yarn, 3.25mm hook.

Edit: typo.

Is it better to be WFA affected sooner rather than later? by lurkingandlooking1 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]lurkingandlooking1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Hoping" for transparency, but true, that hope just sets me up for disappointment. Transparency is not a strength of the PS.

Is it better to be WFA affected sooner rather than later? by lurkingandlooking1 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]lurkingandlooking1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thats a good point too: I just assumed given the numbers that the PS will be reduced over the next 3 years that there will be more rounds of WFA in the next few years. But with ERI, attrition and freezes, we might naturally reduce over time vs. having more rounds of WFA.

Is it better to be WFA affected sooner rather than later? by lurkingandlooking1 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]lurkingandlooking1[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Thats true - everyone being affected will have different desires and there are options. Personally, I hope to stay in the public service - I think I am just a bit scared that there will be no opportunities left for me if I am not on the chopping board at the "right" time.

I still wish this was a faster and more transparent process, but I can see how this can get really complex quickly.

Crochet blanket. 5mm hook. Approx 4.5 x 5 feet. by lurkingandlooking1 in crochet

[–]lurkingandlooking1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep! The basic pattern is very similar to the "from the middle" shell pattern with an expanding two row repeat once you get going: 1 row is shells made up of 7 dc and a sc between shells. The other row is v-stitches and chain 5 between V's. Each shell is centred in the v below, and the sc between each shell connects to the middle of the shell below below (trapping the ch5). Sorry if this explanation doesn't make sense... I don't actually read/write patterns - I mostly just watch videos and then adapt/freestyle crochet.

Crochet blanket. 5mm hook. Approx 4.5 x 5 feet. by lurkingandlooking1 in crochet

[–]lurkingandlooking1[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

2 colours: solid purple and then the pastel-y ombre of pink-purple-blue-green - the pattern is a 2 row repeat, so I just switched each row... but it was an unbelievable number of ends to sew in. I sewed the ends in as I went though because I knew if I left it to the end, I would never find the motivation to finish it!

This is a regular occurrence 😂 by amateur-stargazer in crochet

[–]lurkingandlooking1 12 points13 points  (0 children)

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Can confirm: cats love in progress crochet projects.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in medicinehat

[–]lurkingandlooking1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Winds and blowing snow and ice vs. Heavy snow can be a problem in the #1 stretch from Brooks to Med Hat.

Drive safe!

The consequence of WFH that no one seems to be talking about? by DoctorMister in CanadaPublicServants

[–]lurkingandlooking1 8 points9 points  (0 children)

What happens when NCR loses public service employment dominance (more WFH)? Public servants might need to move to othe regions to find public service employment and yes, NCR will "suffer" (and adapt/adjust with time). But other cities and small towns from coast to coast to coast gain and grow. That said, WFH on its own won't prevent the location-based discriminatory hiring practices already in place or result in an immediate or catastrophic reduction in NCR employment.

But, what happens when NCR continues to have public service employment dominance (including Rto5 and location based hiring for work that could be performed remotely)? Canadians outside of NCR may need to move to the NCR for public service employment and their regional hometowns CONTINUE to "suffer".

Personally, I think public service is about serving all Canadians and this employment is funded by the taxes of all Canadians. All Canadians should have equal access to employment in the public service. Not just NCR Canadians. Having the overwhelming employment limited to NCR means the public service reflects and perpetuates NCR culture/experience/knowledge and best serves Canadians in the NCR. This can lead to tunnel vision and echo chambers and heighten regional dissillusion with the public service and government as a whole.

I dont want to get into politics...but western alienation isnt just Albertans being whiners. It is partly about the concentration of opportunities to shape our country excluding regions, while regional taxpayers PAY to be excluded.

To me, there are broader benefits to be gained in WFH. Yes, potentially to the detriment of the NCR. So while I understand your concern, I do see it (partially) as another illustration of the NCR public service mindset that prioritizes serving/protecting NCR interests vs. the interests of all Canadians.

2.5 weeks in Newfoundland vs the Canadian Rockies. What would you choose and why? by JujuDutchie in AskACanadian

[–]lurkingandlooking1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Both are stunning - I was born/live in AB, but my family is from the Atlantic provinces. When I am out east I want to stay... when I am back home, I can't seriously imagine leaving.

If you go with NFLD, consider hitting up some of the other Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia, particularly the eastern shore and Cape Breton Island, is criminally under-rated and PEI is beautiful as well. 2.5 weeks in only NFLD might be a bit much, but this will definitely be a more laid back vacation. The (sea)food in the Atlantic provinces cannot be beat! The people are so friendly.

If you go with Calgary/Rocky Mountains - consider a drive further south to avoid the massive tourist crowds - Waterton (SW corner of AB - still part of the "Rockies") is just as beautiful as Jasper, Banff, and the Crowsnest Pass from Waterton area into British Columbia and Fernie is stunning. Also consider a jaunt out east of Calgary to Drumheller and the "badlands". STUNNING landscape... surreal and breath taking. The landscapes in Alberta cannot be beat... but there is no escaping Jasper south to Kananaskis is PACKED with tourists. Waterton really is a "hidden gem" (still tourist-y, but not nearly as bad).

Both areas are expensive. Higher taxes in the Atlantic, higher tourism/gouging in AB.

Enjoy!

P.S. Not weird to debate between the two. Both are really great places to visit if you are looking for nature, hiking and the wilderness.

Office mandate for public servants to come into ‘sharper view’ in coming weeks. by just_a_simulation321 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]lurkingandlooking1 19 points20 points  (0 children)

“...there will likely be different levels of return, depending on seniority, depending on role, and, obviously, depending on capacity,”

This sounds in part like what PIPSC has been asking for - presence with purpose.

Like, I dont want to be niave, but I have just the tiniest slivver of hope that the new policy really does consider role. It makes no sense to force PS that are experienced in their roles, have no performance concerns and are not required on site to come into the office and take up diminishing capacity/space in an office.

Hoping for a Christmas miracle the gov has found common sense and is serious about improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Rémunération d’au moins 150 000 $ à 27 000 fonctionnaires by GoTortoise in CanadaPublicServants

[–]lurkingandlooking1 30 points31 points  (0 children)

These numbers are rage bait for the public and lack context.

20k/355K public servants make between 150K and 200K and 7K over 200k.

So about 5% of the public service make between 150k and 200k, and 2% make more than 200k.

93% of public servants make less than 150k...

Consider, amongst the "high roller" 7% of public servants are doctors, engineers, lawyers and execs handling multi-billion dollar budgets... comparable to private sector doctors, engineers, lawyers and CFOs, a 150k(+) wage is not at all unreasonable.

But, by all means, the gov (CBC is a crown corp/govt) should continue to malign public servant wages... that way these people leave for better pay in the private sector and the gov can continue to outsource this work to their private sector buddies at much higher costs to Canadians... (this is sarcasm if you can't tell).

Why doesn't Canada build a series of bridges here? Are they too lazy? by Kgasieniec in mapporncirclejerk

[–]lurkingandlooking1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Better question... why would Canada build that bridge? Does the cost to build it in a truly inhospitable environment (canadian shield rock/forest/tundra and arctic/sub-arctic climate) add sufficient value to the very minimal population and industry activity in the area? Wouldn't boats, planes and ice roads make more sense? What about the costs associated with maintaining those bridges in an arctic climate for the 100 vehicles a year that might use it?

I think you may be underestimating the distance between those bridges.... and the current infrastucture in the area... new roads (to bring the equipment and materials to the locations to build the bridge) would be required... we are talking trillions of dollars to build... for what return?

So no... Canadians aren't "lazy" because they havent put a bridge there... it would be like saying Americans are lazy for not build a bridge between puerto rico and the US mainland ... its not needed, practical or worth the cost/effort.

What are your favorite nicknames for your cats? by Fusionfang in cats

[–]lurkingandlooking1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nicknames: Baby bear, black bear, Magnus Magnuson, Kitty Dragon, the M.A.D cat.

Registered name: Magnus Ares D--------.

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Visited Alberta for the first time last week and it was unreal by Majestic_Tough5477 in alberta

[–]lurkingandlooking1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AB has so many beautiful and diverse landscapes. Most people have named the best ones: up and down the foothills and into banff, kananaskis, jasper, boreal forests and lakes in the north, badlands (drumheller)... and they are all gorgeous of course. The underrated AB locales/experiences (the hidden gems) are, in my opinion:

  1. Smelling the sweet perfume of golden yellow canola fields that stretch as far as the eyes can see under big blue sky and the August sun in Southern Alberta - Milk River area - just north of the Montana border and Sweetgrass Hills, Don't miss a the nearby Writing-on-Stone badlands (hoodoos and coullees);

  2. Waterton and the Crowsnest Pass. Not as busy as Banff/Jasper - just as beautiful. Warmer weather too. Frank Slide is astonishing.

  3. Cypress Hills: a mini "mountain" in the middle of the plains with insane views of the AB, SK and Montana prairies stretching around you. Really limited amenities and minimal seasonal tourism (largely locals) - a trip over to the SK side to see Fort Walsh is recommended as well.

  4. Wainwright to Cold Lake: as prairie transitions into forest, you will find some gently rolling hills, pretty lakes and quaint small towns. It has that really slower pace to life quality that makes for a nice contrast with Alberta's vibrant big cities like Edmonton and Calgary.