Less than seven days before revealing the upcoming federal budget, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne emphasized the need for the public service to become more sustainable. The minister made this statement following the announcement of budget allocations for women and 2SLGBTQ+ communities to be presented in the upcoming budget session.
Addressing questions during a subsequent news conference, Champagne highlighted the necessity for tough decisions in the government’s expenditure review. He mentioned the potential for “workforce adjustments” as the government aims to streamline processes, consolidate programs across departments, and leverage advanced technology.
When asked if natural attrition would be adequate to meet spending reduction goals, Champagne stressed the unsustainability of the current size of the civil service. He underscored the importance of reverting to a more manageable scale in comparison to pre-COVID-19 levels.
Despite the anticipated reductions, Champagne assured a compassionate approach to the process. According to data from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the federal government employed 287,983 individuals in 2019, which increased to over 300,000 in 2020 and reached 367,772 in the previous year.
