News Release

December 16, 2003

Government's spending control means decline of public service: PSAC  

OTTAWA – Canadians can expect a huge decline in services provided by the federal government in light of Minister Reg Alcock's announcement today of spending control, according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the largest union for federal public workers.

“The government is basically selling out the federal public sector to corporate interests,” says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.  

Through a press release, Treasury Board President Alcock announced that the government will control spending through an extensive and rigorous review of all government spending. This review will include determining which programs the government deems should or could be transferred in to the private or voluntary sector and which the government deems can be made more efficient through public-private partnerships.

“With private corporations calling the shots on quality of service, Canadians   can expect poorer services and less government accountability.   Remember Walkerton, the privatization of Ontario Hydro and meat inspections?   Experience has taught us that privatization schemes just don't work. Worse they endanger public health by putting profits first. Furthermore, the public wants nothing to do with it.”

Turmel adds that the government's announcement of immediate freezes on reclassifications and on the size of the public service will mean further overloading and demoralizing public service workers.

“The    workers and   the unions were not consulted in any of this, and if the Martin government's record on consulting its workers is any indication of how they will consult the public, then Canadians should be warned,” says Turmel.

Surveys and studies, including the Duxbury studies, have shown that high levels of workload is already causing a low level of morale in the public service.   Now on top of that, the government wants to freeze hiring and not pay workers for the value of their work.

“The government has also acknowledged that there is a recruitment and retention problem in the public service, especially with cohorts of workers retiring in the next five to 15 years.   There certainly is a disconnect between this acknowledgement and the hiring freeze.”  

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For information :

                  Joselito Calugay, PSAC Communications, (613) 560-4235
             

65-161203