Is there a significant reduction in civil servants? The Liberal Party's leadership candidates are clearly divided
There are clear differences among the candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada on how to handle federal public services, with Mark Carney, widely seen as the frontrunner, currently taking the most radical stance.
Kani: Limit the scale of public services and cut government spending
Carney promised to limit the size of the federal public sector and control government spending. He has not yet clarified the specific upper limit of public service personnel or the specific amount of budget cuts, but he stated at a press conference on Wednesday that he will review the budgets of various departments and use new technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve efficiency.
Kani said, 'Through these measures, we will achieve a balanced operating budget within three years.'.
Gould: Oppose cutting public services
Competitor Karina Gould's campaign team has stated that she has no plans to cut public services.
Gould's spokesperson Emily Jackson said, "In the current situation, our country is facing threats, on the brink of a major trade war, and Canadian jobs are at risk. Now is not the time to cut public services.
Image source: CTV
During his first month in office, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose high tariffs on Canadian products, including a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports (effective March 12). Trump has also stated that a 25% tariff will be imposed on all Canadian goods, but the implementation is currently suspended, with only a 10% tariff on energy products.
Jackson added that if Canada needs to introduce a new income support program due to the trade war, cutting the public sector at this time would be a wrong approach. If someone says they will achieve budget balance within three years, it means they must make significant cuts to the projects and policies that Canadians rely on for survival
Gould also pledged to increase salaries for members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and support remote work policies that ensure productivity and fairness.
The federal government has started layoffs
In the 2024 budget, the Liberal government announced that it will reduce federal public service costs through natural attrition.
Although the initial plan did not involve layoffs, federal departments and agencies have gradually announced layoffs and reduced recruitment. For example, the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) announced in January that it plans to cut approximately 3300 positions over the next three years, including 660 permanent positions.
The positions of other candidates
Chrystia Freeland has not yet made a clear statement on the future of public services. Her campaign website states, "My government will responsibly use taxpayer funds... to reduce government operating costs, but not to cut the benefits and services that Canadians rely on
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She emphasized the need to reduce bureaucracy, optimize government operations, and utilize digital and artificial intelligence technologies to improve public service efficiency.
Frank Baylis believes that the growth rate of federal public services exceeds population growth and requires in-depth analysis of the problem. He said that the comprehensive layoffs are too simplistic and should be reviewed department by department.
He also proposed that remote work is "not feasible" and plans to implement a minimum standard of working in the office at least four days a week, providing flexibility only for special circumstances.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre stated this month that the public service system is expanding and if he takes office, the government will not fill all vacant positions for retired employees.
Although Canada's largest federal unions, including the Professional Employees Association of Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, have not publicly supported any Liberal Party leadership candidates, they are calling on the next Prime Minister to invest in building a strong federal public service system.
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