Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Associate Director, Division for Human Capital Leadership and Merit System Accountability, Marta Brito Pérez addressed members of the Canadian Public Service Commission, the Canadian counterpart to the U.S. Civil Service on behalf of OPM Director Kay Coles James.

The meeting focused on the strategic management of human capital, building and improving effective human resource systems, and improving management accountability by creating innovative approaches to recruiting, training, and retaining employees.

Pérez in a meeting with Dr. Maria Barrados, the President of the Canadian Public Service Commission, noted that the timing of their visit coincided perfectly with OPM's ongoing efforts to lead the strategic management of human capital. This policy calls for the transformation in the employment, deployment, development and evaluation of the Federal workforce with results in mind.

"Creating a more effective Government depends on attracting, developing, and retaining quality employees from diverse backgrounds and ensuring that they perform at high levels, in a merit-based system." Pérez said. She added that "agencies have taken up the challenge presented by President George W. Bush's Management Agenda and are making significant progress."

Finally, Pérez noted that the U.S. Civil Service system is embodied in the remarkably timeless merit system principles that were shared with the members of the Canadian Public Service Commission.