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Budget watchdog to study cost of replacing Phoenix pay system

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Canada’s parliamentary budget watchdog is wading into the ever-rising price tag for the Phoenix pay crisis with a new study of the cost to replace it.

Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Yves Giroux agreed to undertake the study at the request of Conservative MP Kelly McCauley as part of the work the office has underway this year.

Treasury Board President Scott Brison has said public servants could be testing new pay system prototypes before the end of the year.
Treasury Board President Scott Brison has said public servants could be testing new pay system prototypes before the end of the year.  (Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO)

In a letter to McCauley, Giroux said the search for a Phoenix replacement, launched in August, is still in the consultation phase. He said his office will start by closely monitoring any development of the project, and will seek information from departments to “help prepare a timely cost estimate as concrete information becomes available.”

It’s unclear whether Giroux will be doing a detailed costing of the new system — including its planning, design, implementation and the migration of data from the error-prone Phoenix system to the new one — or whether he will make an estimate based on what a similar “HR-to-pay” system costs in the private or public sectors.

In the letter, Giroux said his office would work with the MP on the terms of reference for the analysis as more details about the implementation of the new pay system emerge.

Giroux made his first appearance at a parliamentary committee on Tuesday since taking over the post from previous PBO, Jean-Denis Fréchette. Giroux testified about the office’s expanded mandate, but no questions were asked about the costing study of Phoenix’s replacement.

MPs can ask the PBO for studies into areas affecting the nation’s finances that are not related to a bill or motion before Parliament.

McCauley, who sits on the Government Operations Committee and has been a constant critic of the Liberals’ management of the Phoenix pay disaster, formally asked for the study on Sept. 25. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer named Rob Nicholson shadow minister of public services and procurement.

News of Giroux’s study comes as the federal government opened the first “gate” in the competition to select suppliers to build the pay system that will replace the calamitous Phoenix pay system.

Treasury Board Secretariat, which is leading the search, released an Invitation to Qualify (ITO) on Tuesday, which lays out the sweeping technical requirements it expects from would-be suppliers.

It’s the first in a four-phase procurement process to select a vendor who can build a new system that will integrate the government’s patchwork of human-resources systems with a pay system. The closing of this first gate is Nov. 13 and the shortlist of qualified bidders go on to the next “gate” to start duking it out with prototypes for a new system.

Treasury Board was given $16 million in the last federal budget, to be spent over two years, to explore replacements for Phoenix, which is still dogged by errors and a large backlog of outstanding pay transactions.

The government kicked off its search for a new pay system last month, calling an “industry day,” which attracted more than 120 industry representatives. About 15 firms have expressed interest in the project.

The search for the new pay system also kicks off a new “agile” procurement strategy that Treasury Board President Scott Brison — who is also the minister of digital government — wants used for large technology projects.

Brison has been unable to say how much a new system would cost, nor when it would replace the old one, but he has said public servants could be testing new prototypes before the end of the year.

The project is being led by Chief Information Officer Alex Benay, and his team is tackling more than a pay system in this go-around. It’s building an HR-to-pay system, which means a major overhaul of how human resources are managed in the public service.

The new system is being planned, designed and built with a new “agile procurement process” that will allow vendors to build prototypes that will show the government what they can do — what Brison calls “less tell and more show.” In fact, the ITQ specifically asks would-be vendors to send videos showing what they and their systems can do.

The next system will be built to meet the needs of employees and managers; it could include a mobile-app pay system they could access 24/7, whether from home or work.

While the system is being built, Public Services and Procurement Canada is still chugging along to fix and stabilize Phoenix so it can reliably pay people correctly and on time.

The last major costing of Phoenix was done by the federal comptroller-general. That report focused on three categories of costs: historical costs to implement the system; projected costs to stabilize Phoenix; and ongoing operating costs. It estimated Phoenix could take five years to fix and cost more than $3.5 billion.

That costing did not include: the millions of dollars expected to build a new system; pension administration costs because of pay errors; employee claims because of Phoenix; or the cost of damages that are being negotiated, or could be awarded, by the court.

Kathryn May is an Ottawa-based reporter for iPolitics. Follow her on Twitter: @kathryn_may

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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