Deterioration of a Worthwhile Institution
What is at one time launched with high promise, an honourable premise and a reasonable possibility for success so often, through human failings, succumbs to a state of feeble facade. Rights and Democracy was created by the Parliament of Canada in 1988 as the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development. Its mandate was forthright and morally elevating, to "promote, advocate and defend the democratic and human rights set out in the International Bill of Human Rights, principally in developing countries".
Fittingly enough, Canada's elder statesman of the left, the former leader of the Federal New Democratic Party, Ed Broadbent, was appointed its first president. Mr. Broadbent took great pride and great pains in both the existence of the Centre, in its universal purpose, and his place within it. His personal commitment to human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and equality of opportunity made this a perfect fit for this man of impeccable moral suasion.
His tenure was followed by that of a former Liberal cabinet minister in the government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Warren Allmand, yet another noted human-rights advocate. And finally, when Mr. Allmand stepped down, the post was filled by a former publisher of Montreal's Le Devoir newspaper, Jean-Louis Roy. And that is when the institute and its formidable purpose began to slide downhill.
Mr. Roy appears to have viewed this institute as his private fiefdom, that it somehow owes him a splendid opportunity to live very well indeed, and that its initial purpose should be second to his personal satisfaction. Commitment to the original purpose, to assist the world's most desperate, appears to have been diminished under his oversight. The staff of 45 employees has become completely demoralized under the organizational culture brought to bear through its new president.
The Rights and Democracy staff reported through their union representative that there was a record rise in the number of grievances filed against management: "non-respect of staff, misallocation of resources, micro-management, arbitrary imposition of weakly-developed policies designed with no consultation from staff, and even the appearance of systemic sexism all too often characterize work relations at Rights and Democracy".
"This has led to a situation where many of our members are disheartened and frustrated and are unable to achieve the results we all want to see." A report by an external consultant, the Institute on Governance, pinpointed problems such as the need for "more focused programming," "a longer-term approach" and "better strategic planning", mentioning also that staff morale problems, first flagged in a 2003 report, persist.
"The existing staff is highly credible and well respected in their own thematic areas, and it would be unfortunate to jeopardize their commitment to the mission and mandate of R&D" according to the 2003 report. Yet the report was unheeded, and Mr. Roy's appointment resulted in his overhaul of the centre, earning him this statement in a 2006 letter that employees were "very alarmed at the cavalier fashion in which labour relations at our institution have been managed since your arrival."
During 2006, Mr. Roy made international trips to Mali, Geneva, Copenhagen and London, Dominican Republic, Moscow, Nantes, France and Morocco. He made 9 trips to Paris, staying at select, high-priced hotels. His expense accounts have been inflated by high spending claims. Breakfasts and lunches for Mr. Roy and his senior assistant and director of programs take place at fashionable and expensive restaurants rather than in their own offices.
His predecessor, Mr. Allmand, pointed out that when he was in tenure, his personal stays were at Travelodge, not at the Chateau Laurier, in recognition that the elite locations were too expensive for the limited budget of the institute to carry. "I had very little cause to go to Paris," Mr. Allmand said of his five years as president. "The main centres are Geneva, New York, the United Nations. In the field, for us, is Latin America, Africa, Asia."
The organization clearly has a purpose and a respected mandate. It has been led in the past by credible and honourable men whose interest was in furthering the mandate of the institution, and advancing the cause of those in need of its services. It is unfortunate that a critical organization such as this has fallen into the presiding oversight of someone whose commitment is not to the greater good, but his own.
Fittingly enough, Canada's elder statesman of the left, the former leader of the Federal New Democratic Party, Ed Broadbent, was appointed its first president. Mr. Broadbent took great pride and great pains in both the existence of the Centre, in its universal purpose, and his place within it. His personal commitment to human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and equality of opportunity made this a perfect fit for this man of impeccable moral suasion.
His tenure was followed by that of a former Liberal cabinet minister in the government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Warren Allmand, yet another noted human-rights advocate. And finally, when Mr. Allmand stepped down, the post was filled by a former publisher of Montreal's Le Devoir newspaper, Jean-Louis Roy. And that is when the institute and its formidable purpose began to slide downhill.
Mr. Roy appears to have viewed this institute as his private fiefdom, that it somehow owes him a splendid opportunity to live very well indeed, and that its initial purpose should be second to his personal satisfaction. Commitment to the original purpose, to assist the world's most desperate, appears to have been diminished under his oversight. The staff of 45 employees has become completely demoralized under the organizational culture brought to bear through its new president.
The Rights and Democracy staff reported through their union representative that there was a record rise in the number of grievances filed against management: "non-respect of staff, misallocation of resources, micro-management, arbitrary imposition of weakly-developed policies designed with no consultation from staff, and even the appearance of systemic sexism all too often characterize work relations at Rights and Democracy".
"This has led to a situation where many of our members are disheartened and frustrated and are unable to achieve the results we all want to see." A report by an external consultant, the Institute on Governance, pinpointed problems such as the need for "more focused programming," "a longer-term approach" and "better strategic planning", mentioning also that staff morale problems, first flagged in a 2003 report, persist.
"The existing staff is highly credible and well respected in their own thematic areas, and it would be unfortunate to jeopardize their commitment to the mission and mandate of R&D" according to the 2003 report. Yet the report was unheeded, and Mr. Roy's appointment resulted in his overhaul of the centre, earning him this statement in a 2006 letter that employees were "very alarmed at the cavalier fashion in which labour relations at our institution have been managed since your arrival."
During 2006, Mr. Roy made international trips to Mali, Geneva, Copenhagen and London, Dominican Republic, Moscow, Nantes, France and Morocco. He made 9 trips to Paris, staying at select, high-priced hotels. His expense accounts have been inflated by high spending claims. Breakfasts and lunches for Mr. Roy and his senior assistant and director of programs take place at fashionable and expensive restaurants rather than in their own offices.
His predecessor, Mr. Allmand, pointed out that when he was in tenure, his personal stays were at Travelodge, not at the Chateau Laurier, in recognition that the elite locations were too expensive for the limited budget of the institute to carry. "I had very little cause to go to Paris," Mr. Allmand said of his five years as president. "The main centres are Geneva, New York, the United Nations. In the field, for us, is Latin America, Africa, Asia."
The organization clearly has a purpose and a respected mandate. It has been led in the past by credible and honourable men whose interest was in furthering the mandate of the institution, and advancing the cause of those in need of its services. It is unfortunate that a critical organization such as this has fallen into the presiding oversight of someone whose commitment is not to the greater good, but his own.
Labels: Canada
posted by Pieface | 5:59 PM
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