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I read an article in last week’s National Post (Jack Mintz: Federal employment bloat costing taxpayers at least $10 billion annually) and almost fell over with the figure he described.
As our Liberal leaders in Ottawa celebrate our country’s employment numbers, they didn’t seem to want to reveal one important detail: It’s not the private sector that’s growing and booming; it’s the ranks of more and more government offices that are bursting at the seams.
I suggest those who want all the details to reference the article mentioned but, being a numbers guy, I have to offer these highlights.
Public sector employees now number almost 4.5 million people representing 21.5 per cent of Canada’s workforce and the federal civil service grew at a staggering 38.9 per cent since 2014, while our population increased by 12.2 per cent.
Now I will be the first to acknowledge we require government services, but when the hiring spree in Ottawa has outpaced our population growth by more than three times, it becomes ridiculous, irresponsible and unaccountable.
Further, Mintz outlines that with all the benefits and other freebies that come with a plumb government gig, the average non-military federal employee costs us taxpayers $142,000 a year. That’s a good gig if you can land one, and a lot of money for people who often work from home with limited oversight, supervision or deliverables at the end of the day.
But what are we getting? Can anyone point towards any vast improvements in the public sector? Are passports coming any quicker? Are less drugs, guns and criminals crossing our borders? Are legal immigrants looking to work getting processed more quickly?
Being a tax accountant, I’ve seen firsthand how most things at CRA have gotten much worse over that time. To be fair, there have been improvements in online services.
That would lead me to think their work force would now be more efficient, like my staff and those of my clients when we invest in better IT services. But no. That department’s employees increased by 46.5 per cent since 2014.
Back then we didn’t need to wait one to six hours (no exaggeration) to speak to a representative who often can’t answer a question, won’t connect you to someone who might be able to, or even just hangs up.
This is just another example of a Liberal government with no plan, no grasp on finances or spending, and zero respect for tax-paying Canadians. Justin Trudeau is burning through our money and our local MPs are supporting this waste.
It’s time for a change. It’s time to put responsible people back in charge of Canada’s bank account. It’s time for an election.
Fred Slade
Former Federal Conservative candidate
Greater Sudbury