Treasury Board President Tony Clement served notice Thursday that he won’t allow federal public service unions to get in the way of the government carrying out its multibillion-dollar deficit reduction action plan.
Speaking to the Empire Club in Toronto, Clement accused public service unions of collaborating with the NDP to frustrate the government’s plans.
“Sustainable services by a right-sized public service should be uncontroversial goals,” Clement said. “Unfortunately, public sector union bosses, working hand-in-glove with the NDP opposition, only want to perpetuate the status quo. Their only solutions seem to be: hire more, tax more, spend more.”
“Ladies and gentlemen: this is both irresponsible and unsustainable. This stand pat approach by the unions and the NDP will actually translate into mediocre public services, at high cost, to a frustrated public.”
Clement vowed not to give in.
“Suffice to say, I will resist their non-solutions, even as they continue their personal attacks and well-funded campaigns of resistance. I do so for one reason only: it is the national interest that is served by governments spending within their means and striving for excellence.”
Clement’s comments come as the government is nearing the end of a year-long strategic and operating review exercise designed to trim government spending and balance the budget.
In his speech to the Empire Club, whose previous speakers have included Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, Clement hinted that the government’s reduction target may be higher than initially envisioned. While the government had asked departments to come up with cost cutting scenarios of five and 10 per cent, in most speeches, Clement has emphasized the target of five percent which would save the government $4 billion.
In his speech, however, Clement said the goal of the strategic and operating review is to reduce government spending “anywhere between $4 billion and $8 billion.”
Clement said the cabinet committee he heads has been working around the clock, weighing 650 separate proposals from departments. The “appropriate deliberations” by the cabinet and the Conservative caucus, the end result of the exercise will be included in the 2012 budget to be tabled in February or March.
However, Clement said the strategic and operating review isn’t just saving money.
“It’s also about modernizing government. It’s about retooling for the future — and providing the right programs and services at the right cost. Done well, these changes promise vital services will be available to those who need them in a sustainable and efficient way.”
Clement said the Red Tape Commission report and the government’s decision to eliminate one regulation for every new one it adopts will also limit growth in federal bureaucracy. Meanwhile, the government’s Open Government initiative will create opportunity and is “essential to our nation’s economic success and innovation,” he said.
Clement said Canada is weathering the world economic crisis well but it’s not out of the woods yet.
“As we emerge from the worst recession since the Great Depression we know that some Canadian families are worried about their jobs and their financial security. While we understand that our role as government is to help create the conditions in which Canadians can succeed, we also believe that it is ultimately the ingenuity and the determination of Canadians that will be the driving force behind long-term economic growth and jobs.”
Original Article
Source: iPolitics
Author: Elizabeth Thompson
Speaking to the Empire Club in Toronto, Clement accused public service unions of collaborating with the NDP to frustrate the government’s plans.
“Sustainable services by a right-sized public service should be uncontroversial goals,” Clement said. “Unfortunately, public sector union bosses, working hand-in-glove with the NDP opposition, only want to perpetuate the status quo. Their only solutions seem to be: hire more, tax more, spend more.”
“Ladies and gentlemen: this is both irresponsible and unsustainable. This stand pat approach by the unions and the NDP will actually translate into mediocre public services, at high cost, to a frustrated public.”
Clement vowed not to give in.
“Suffice to say, I will resist their non-solutions, even as they continue their personal attacks and well-funded campaigns of resistance. I do so for one reason only: it is the national interest that is served by governments spending within their means and striving for excellence.”
Clement’s comments come as the government is nearing the end of a year-long strategic and operating review exercise designed to trim government spending and balance the budget.
In his speech to the Empire Club, whose previous speakers have included Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, Clement hinted that the government’s reduction target may be higher than initially envisioned. While the government had asked departments to come up with cost cutting scenarios of five and 10 per cent, in most speeches, Clement has emphasized the target of five percent which would save the government $4 billion.
In his speech, however, Clement said the goal of the strategic and operating review is to reduce government spending “anywhere between $4 billion and $8 billion.”
Clement said the cabinet committee he heads has been working around the clock, weighing 650 separate proposals from departments. The “appropriate deliberations” by the cabinet and the Conservative caucus, the end result of the exercise will be included in the 2012 budget to be tabled in February or March.
However, Clement said the strategic and operating review isn’t just saving money.
“It’s also about modernizing government. It’s about retooling for the future — and providing the right programs and services at the right cost. Done well, these changes promise vital services will be available to those who need them in a sustainable and efficient way.”
Clement said the Red Tape Commission report and the government’s decision to eliminate one regulation for every new one it adopts will also limit growth in federal bureaucracy. Meanwhile, the government’s Open Government initiative will create opportunity and is “essential to our nation’s economic success and innovation,” he said.
Clement said Canada is weathering the world economic crisis well but it’s not out of the woods yet.
“As we emerge from the worst recession since the Great Depression we know that some Canadian families are worried about their jobs and their financial security. While we understand that our role as government is to help create the conditions in which Canadians can succeed, we also believe that it is ultimately the ingenuity and the determination of Canadians that will be the driving force behind long-term economic growth and jobs.”
Original Article
Source: iPolitics
Author: Elizabeth Thompson
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