Increased federal hiring surpasses rates in the private sector, Budget Officer Yves Giroux yesterday told the Commons government operations committee..“It’s mostly recent and ongoing,” said Giroux, who earlier estimated payroll costs will top $50 billion this year..“What is the guiding factor for the significant increases in the public service?” asked Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie (Calgary Midnapore). “It seems to be rather widespread in the public sector as the government increases its spending in various areas,” replied Giroux..“Do you believe personnel costs for the public service are in line with what is seen in the private sector in Canada?” asked Kusie..“I think the growth has been faster in the public sector,” replied Giroux..The Budget Office in a November 18 report said the number of federal employees since 2015 increased from 342,000 to 391,000, or an average 2.3% a year..“Government spending on public servant salaries and benefits is forecast to climb to almost $55 billion this year or about $130,000 per full-time employee,” said the report..Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk (Windsor-Tecumseh, ON.) yesterday told the government operations committee the increased hiring was in line with population growth..“Even though in real numbers it’s increased but it’s still relatively the same percentage of the Canadian population,” said Kusmierczyk..“When you look at the total federal public service it still represents, even with the increases, it’s about .8% of the population which is the same proportion as back in 2010,” said Kusmierczyk..“More Canadians means more enquiries about the Canada Pension Plan, more enquiries regarding Employment Insurance and whatnot, so naturally I would imagine you would need more full-time employees to handle that,” said Kusmierczyk. “Is that one way of looking at it?”.“It’s one potential way of looking at it,” replied Giroux. “By the same token you’d expect also with more services moving online as compared to in person as has been the case with the Canada Revenue Agency notably, there would be efficiency gains.”.The previous Conservative cabinet following the 2008 financial crisis cut some 26,000 public service jobs, by official estimate. Then-Finance minister Paul Martin in an austerity drive beginning in 1995 cut 55,000 jobs..“The federal public service was smaller in 2006 than it was 11 years earlier,” Statistics Canada wrote in a 2007 report. .“In terms of rates there were 11.7 federal employees for every 1,000 Canadians in 2006, down from 13 in 1995.”
Increased federal hiring surpasses rates in the private sector, Budget Officer Yves Giroux yesterday told the Commons government operations committee..“It’s mostly recent and ongoing,” said Giroux, who earlier estimated payroll costs will top $50 billion this year..“What is the guiding factor for the significant increases in the public service?” asked Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie (Calgary Midnapore). “It seems to be rather widespread in the public sector as the government increases its spending in various areas,” replied Giroux..“Do you believe personnel costs for the public service are in line with what is seen in the private sector in Canada?” asked Kusie..“I think the growth has been faster in the public sector,” replied Giroux..The Budget Office in a November 18 report said the number of federal employees since 2015 increased from 342,000 to 391,000, or an average 2.3% a year..“Government spending on public servant salaries and benefits is forecast to climb to almost $55 billion this year or about $130,000 per full-time employee,” said the report..Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk (Windsor-Tecumseh, ON.) yesterday told the government operations committee the increased hiring was in line with population growth..“Even though in real numbers it’s increased but it’s still relatively the same percentage of the Canadian population,” said Kusmierczyk..“When you look at the total federal public service it still represents, even with the increases, it’s about .8% of the population which is the same proportion as back in 2010,” said Kusmierczyk..“More Canadians means more enquiries about the Canada Pension Plan, more enquiries regarding Employment Insurance and whatnot, so naturally I would imagine you would need more full-time employees to handle that,” said Kusmierczyk. “Is that one way of looking at it?”.“It’s one potential way of looking at it,” replied Giroux. “By the same token you’d expect also with more services moving online as compared to in person as has been the case with the Canada Revenue Agency notably, there would be efficiency gains.”.The previous Conservative cabinet following the 2008 financial crisis cut some 26,000 public service jobs, by official estimate. Then-Finance minister Paul Martin in an austerity drive beginning in 1995 cut 55,000 jobs..“The federal public service was smaller in 2006 than it was 11 years earlier,” Statistics Canada wrote in a 2007 report. .“In terms of rates there were 11.7 federal employees for every 1,000 Canadians in 2006, down from 13 in 1995.”
