Less than a week before unveiling the upcoming federal budget, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne emphasized the need for a more sustainable size of the public service. He made these statements following the announcement of funding for women and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, which will be featured in the budget set to be presented next week.
During a subsequent news conference, Champagne addressed inquiries regarding the federal service’s scale, stressing the necessity of making challenging decisions to Canadians through the expenditure review process. The minister highlighted the potential for “workforce adjustments” as the government aims to streamline operations, consolidate programs across departments, and leverage enhanced technology.
When questioned about whether attrition alone could meet the government’s spending reduction objectives, Champagne underscored that the current size of the civil service is not sustainable. He emphasized the importance of returning to a more viable level compared to pre-COVID-19 times while ensuring a compassionate approach in the process.
According to data from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the federal government employed 287,983 individuals in 2019. This number increased to over 300,000 in 2020 and reached 367,772 by the latest count.