A few days ago I asked if Canadian taxpayers had the stomach to challenge the Public Service sector on their compensation packages, which would be an inevitable result if the present government really dug in their heels on substantive and meaningful cuts rather than Stockwell Day’s first timid nicks.
At the end of that post I had added a link to a very pertinent article in the Globe by Karim Bardeesy – We can’t fix the public sector in one budget. Bardeesy invites us to look into the future and assess what kind of frills we feel we can do without in terms of reducing the costs of government services, especially in view of the fact that many collective agreements won’t be up for renegotiation for some time yet:
…Governments and taxpayers also need to revise their assumptions. They must ask whether tax increases are necessary to keep funding for public services adequate. Or they’ll need to start choosing which services they no longer expect to be publicly funded.
It’s easy to focus on politically expedient short-term battles between government and the public sector. The future of services that Canadians value will depend on those who’ll start the larger conversation.
I see Stockwell Day’s first efforts as a token gesture to get that debate going. And already we are hearing the screams of protest from the entitled public service, as Paul Rutherford tells us:
…Every federal department — except National Defence — will see its overall budget frozen at 2010-2011 levels for the following two years.
In an otherwise bland, so-so federal budget this was one of the bright spots.
It’s an effective way to begin the climb out of our massive deficit.
Canadian families and businesses are showing restraint — government needs to also, say the feds.
But no sooner had the ink dried on Flaherty’s budget, when the whining began.
“Why don’t they tell the people of Canada what services they can no longer expect?” Public Service Alliance of Canada national president John Gordon said.
Gordon has fired the first grenade claiming every time the feds come calling, their members are asked to make huge sacrifices, resulting in reduced services for Canadians and more work for public servants.
But are Canadians as fussed over what might go missing down at the local federal office more than an out-of-control deficit that needs to be reined in?
In a word: No…
Rutherford seems to think that taxpayers would support deeper cuts and I suspect he is right judging from the latest Angus Reid poll showing that 81% favour freezing the overall budgets for the offices of ministers and departmental operating budgets, as well as the 92% who support the freeze on wages for MPs, cabinet ministers and senators.
But Bardeesy is correct that it ultimately comes down to how much we are realistically prepared to give up ourselves in terms of services so that our tax burden becomes less oppressive. Trying to do things smarter with less is a great objective, but ultimately we have to decide what we can live without – and then convey those thoughts to our MPs and to every other level of government that seem to delight in emptying our wallets.
The Public Sector unions are going to go ballistic and the NDP will surely be stoking the fires on their behalf. Are we ready for that fight?
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Update
Interesting debate between Amanda Lang and Kevin O’Leary yesterday (starts just after the 4 minute mark). Kevin says “Fire all of them!”
That reminds me of Ezra Levant’s ‘Action Plan‘ from a few years ago, which still rings true today: Fire. Them. All.
And the CHRC is a great place to start. Yeah, I think we can live without them.
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Upperdate
O.K. I’ve decided to start a list based on comments and I’ll put my own at the top.
Where Stockwell Day should start cutting:
1. CHRC
2. Long Gun Registry (Lee)
3. CBC (Bluetech – with certain exceptions) [West Coast Teddi suggests privatizing it.]
4. Special Interest group programs and ministries (Greg)
5. Groups like Rights and Democracy (Jad)
5. Ten-Percenter reductions (Bec)
6. Wheat Board (Bec)
7. Cut all NGOs with advocacy roles (Dr. Roy)
8. Cuts to agricultural subsidies (Dr. Roy)
9. Exiled Maritimer suggests pension changes among other things. But Sandy recommends caution regarding travel expenses and severance.
10. Union contracts frozen and MPs perks cut to the bone (Wilson)
11. Bombardier subsidies (Doug)
12. Cut the GG’s budget. (Maz2)
13. Cut $1.95 subsidy to Federal Parties and many more ideas including the sale of Via Rail (Rich)
Where to look for efficiencies:
1. Tax code simplification (Lee) [Dr. Roy suggests a flat tax]
2. Elections Canada (Bec)
3. Skulman has several efficiency suggestions detailed here including incentive changes for the public service and allowing the private sector to take over some of the services. Mary T would also like to change the work ethic.
4. Two term limit for politicians and they only qualify for a pension if 50% of those they represented agree; a true ‘exit’ poll. (Wayne)
5. Bonuses to department heads based on how much money they did not spend in their budget. (Wayne)
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The ideas just keep coming and coming! I never expected this kind of response. Please check the whole comment section for more fantastic grassroot suggestions on how to get the bloat out of Government. And please forward your favourites to our elected officials. Thanks.