New commissioner to face psychometric assessment
Reports from Canada suggest that the next public sector integrity commissioner will have to sit a psychometric assessment before being appointed.
The Toronto Sun reports that Privy Council officials appeared at Parliament's government operations committee recently to explain how they'll replace disgraced former commissioner, Christiane Ouimet, who retired abruptly in October.
According to Patricia Hassard, deputy secretary to the cabinet, the psychometric testing is another new safeguard to make sure the right person is chosen for the job.
She said the psychometric test involves assessment by a psychologist to help ascertain an individual's qualities of character, their thinking style, capabilities in relating to others as a leader, judgement and responses in stressful situations.
Hassard also said the government has begun using the tool recently in order to help fill top-level positions.
It can also help to assess those attributes that staff and colleagues can find alienating, which is important when considering for leadership positions, she added.
In addition to the psychometric assessment, the newspaper reports that a selection committee - made up of both public and private sector officials - will help to choose Ouimet's replacement. A headhunting firm will also be hired to identify qualified candidates.
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