May 5, 2008
Federal Strategic Spending Reviews Ongoing
Federal government program spending reviews first announced in the 2007 Budget will continue this year.
Last year, the programs of 17 departments and agencies were reviewed with a view to identifying ways to limit the growth of program spending to 5 per cent, roughly the projected growth of GDP.
The 2008 Budget states that the 2007 reviews of agencies and departments identified opportunities for “streamlining operations and realigning their activities” that will yield $386 million from program cuts. Because each department and agency has different priorities and service commitments, it is difficult to predict the ultimate across-the-board impact of the coming cuts and reallocations. However, we do know at this point that the government's five per cent grab from the budget of the National Gallery of Canada has resulted in layoffs.
In total, 10 jobs will be lost, including a couple of key positions that will have implications with respect to the Gallery's ability to maintain and conserve its collections. Five positions that are currently vacant will not be re-staffed and five workers – including three PSAC members and one PIPSC member – have received lay-off notices. The PSAC is currently considering a range of actions in response to the employer's actions.
Meanwhile, the federal government has informed the PSAC that it intends to conduct further program spending reviews in the following 16 departments and agencies:
- Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
- Environment Canada
- Marine Atlantic
- Transport Canada
- Correctional Services Canada
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- National Parole Board
- Justice Canada
- Health Canada
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- Veteran's Affairs Canada
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- National Research Council of Canada
- Canadian Space Agency
In addition, the latest report from the Prime Minister's advisory committee on the public service is recommending some reorientation and realignment of the key agencies responsible for human resources governance in the public service. These agencies include: the Public Service Labour Relations Board; the Public Service Staffing Tribunal; the Canada Public Service Agency; the Canada School of Public Service; the Treasury Board Secretariat (Labour Relations, Compensation and Benefits); and, the Public Service Commission.
Recommendations in the report call for disentangling the existing overlapping accountability structure of these organizations. Again, while it is not immediately apparent what impact these recommendations will have, it is likely that there will be some harmonization of human resource management in those organizations. The PSAC has stressed with Treasury Board the need for consultation on the conduct of these program reviews and it is expected that the departments under review will brief the Components and provide specifics with respect to how the reviews will be conducted. The PSAC will be monitoring these reviews and responding to any possible impacts on PSAC members and quality public services.
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Date Modified : 2008/05/05
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