B.C.’s finance minister on Sunday defended a government employee reward program that is being criticized as a waste of taxpayer money.

The Finance Ministry’s “Online Recognition Cupboard” serves to reward government employees for a job well done by allowing civil servants to send each other gifts, which are paid for by the ministry to the tune of about $1.5 million each year.

On the internal website, workers can choose from items such as gift cards, chocolates and coffee mugs. They do not require approval from a manager before sending such gifts.

The program came to light over the weekend after a newspaper column criticized it as a waste of money.

Finance Minister Kevin Falcon pointed out the program has been in place for many years, having been introduced by the NDP in 1999.

He said perspective is key.

“We’re the largest employer in the province, with 30,000 employees and a $42-billion annual budget,” Falcon said. “This $1.5 million recognizes employees that have been exceptional in work performance and/or employees that are being recognized for long service, for example, having worked in civil service for 20, 25, 30 years or longer.”

He noted more than half of the $1.5 million goes to a number of special events each year, including long-service awards dinners and a dinner to celebrate exceptional innovations in civil service. “It’s not people just firing around gifts to each other for fun,” Falcon said.

“Recognizing employees that have served the province for decades is entirely appropriate and I’m not going to be an employer that is going to cancel those kinds of programs.”

Falcon admitted he is unfamiliar with the inner workings of the program — and what measures are in place, if any, to ensure it is not abused — but said he would look into it.

“The accountability rests with the assistant deputy ministers who are responsible for making the purchases of the recognition items and making sure they are utilized in an appropriate manner,” he said.

“I’m not aware of any abuse taking place; it’s never been brought to my attention. Certainly I will look further into it to ensure that that’s not taking place. I would be surprised if it was.”

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