‘DOGE’ and ‘DOGE-lite’: Public service unions react to costed federal party platforms
Public service unions are closely monitoring the fully costed platforms recently released by Canada’s major political parties, particularly focusing on what parties are pledging to spend on the federal workforce.
Alex Silas, national executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, emphasized the importance of reinforcing public services rather than cutting them, especially in light of the record high size of the federal public service reported by the Public Service Commission of Canada last year.
Both Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have indicated their intentions to reduce government spending by reining in the public service. Carney’s platform proposes capping employment to ensure that the size of the federal public service aligns with the needs of Canadians, aiming to balance the operating budget over the next three years through cutting waste, eliminating duplication, and leveraging technology.
On the other hand, Poilievre’s Conservative platform aims to reduce the cost of the bureaucracy gradually and through attrition, without mass layoffs, by hiring back only two people for every three who voluntarily retire. The Conservatives plan to save taxpayers $77.7 billion over four years by cancelling programs, finding efficiencies, and streamlining the public service.
Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, likened the approaches of both parties to the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, which focuses on slashing government spending and has eliminated thousands of federal jobs through buyouts and layoffs. Prier referred to the Conservatives as “DOGE” and the Liberals as “DOGE-lite” in this context.
The NDP platform rejects cuts to the public sector and social programs, advocating instead for increased investments in infrastructure and people. The party opposes short-term budgetary balance measures that would have adverse effects on individuals.
Both the Liberal and Conservative platforms aim to reduce the federal government’s reliance on external consultants, with the Conservatives planning to cut spending on consultants by $10.5 billion. While reducing spending on external consultants is welcomed by unions, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on the work of a smaller public service.
Former clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Wernick, questioned the parties’ plans to reduce reliance on external consultants without specifying how the work would be managed otherwise. He stressed the importance of investing in the training and development of the public service to compensate for the reduction in external consultants.
