I think that tax-paying, hard-working citizens should be able to make suggestions that the government and politicians take seriously, especially if a whole bunch of people are suggesting them.
My first suggestion would be that the GNWT and federal government outlaw automated answering systems completely. They are incredibly frustrating. They waste a lot of time, and I am sure they are detrimental to peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 mental, physical and spiritual health. I would certainly like to know what they cost the government to buy and set up and they should certainly be rated.
During Covid, there was the Covid hotline. It was a real disaster. I returned to the NWT from medical travel and was told at the airport that when I got home that I had to immediately phone the Covid hotline and inform them I had returned, registered and that I was going to be in isolation.
It took a good half hour of listening to endless instructions in English and French, navigating several push this button or that until I finally got to talk to a person who asked why are you phoning us? When I explained why, he said, SA国际影视传媒淲ell, I will record that you called but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 really not why I am here. I am here to answer questions.SA国际影视传媒� So, I asked, SA国际影视传媒淚 know I am supposed to isolate but can I go for walks? He gave me a number to call, and they gave me another number to call and an hour later it was determined that no one knew.
Every three days, I was supposed to check in and went through that nightmare again and again and again. Meanwhile, some guy in Ottawa, I think, would phone me every three days and I would also get an email. I asked why do they have three different check ins? DidnSA国际影视传媒檛 they use a master list or communicate with each other? Apparently, the answer was no.
During the wildfire evacuation, trying to get information from another automated system was an incredibly frustrating and useless process. And upon the return from evacuation again an automated phone answer system that would malfunction and shut down from caller overload. These systems just keep failing but the government keeps using them. What do they cost and how inefficient are they? WouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 it just be cheaper, easier and more effective to hire a few people to actually answer the phones?
Recently, I tried to book an appointment for the health clinic. It took about five phone calls and took three days. That indicates the system is not working well, so why not just get rid of it because it is causing a lot of angst, frustration and reflects incredibly badly on the government.
Personally, I think these automated answering systems are a complete and utter failure. They are a fad which has failed and should be eliminated. I think they should be banned, outlawed, put in a vault somewhere and abandoned. The money they cost would be far better spent hiring people to answer the phones. This is not the first SA国际影视传媒済reat ideaSA国际影视传媒� that turned out to be a disaster.
Think about the amount of time wasted each day by Canadians phoning these lines and not getting anywhere in the process. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 bad for peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 health and reflects badly on the government and itSA国际影视传媒檚 lack of flexibility to handle even simple problems. Also, waiting times are incredible.
Trying to book an airline flight can take hours of listening to bad music. Imagine if it was the law that any wait longer than say 10 minutes would result in the government or company paying the caller $1 a minute. You can bet then some extra staff would be hired quickly. That might just solve the problem, reduce headaches and provide some employment.
