John Robson: Streamlining Ottawa’s Overextended Public Service Is a Crucial Challenge
Commentary
What now? The turmoil has calmed, the ballots are counted, and democracy has either prevailed or met with disaster. Regardless, it’s time to set aside political battles and focus on governance—an often daunting task.
By “hard,” I mean it in both senses. Politicians find it challenging to transition to governing, chiefly because the skills needed to secure their positions differ markedly from those required to fulfill them. This creates a significant pitfall, particularly for electoral winners, who may feel compelled to continue campaigning post-victory.
To some extent, they must remain active since the defeated are still engaged in political maneuvering, aiming to overturn the current result in future elections. However, they are also drawn back to campaigning because it leverages their strengths and skills—skills that may not translate to actual governance.
You might argue that in Canada, the Liberals, having achieved an unexpected if not overwhelming victory, are eager to roll out their campaign promises. This could be true, though some key elements may have been selected more for electoral gain than genuine belief. Yet, even pursuing the initiatives they championed may become complicated and frustrating, leading them to revert to the ease and enjoyment of campaigning.
One reason for the potential difficulties is that many of their campaign pledges may be imprudent and yield outcomes far different from what they envisioned. Especially concerning is their commitment to continue borrowing and spending without restraint. When the reckoning arrives, with escalating interest payments squeezing budget allocations and driving rates higher, governance will likely become anything but enjoyable.
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Addressing the issue of achieving a respectful and effective resolution with Donald Trump on tariffs presents additional challenges. The Liberals may not have created that dilemma, but they did pledge to resolve it without a coherent plan. However, my primary concern extends beyond the specifics of their platform; it pertains to a significant topic that was only indirectly and sarcastically acknowledged during the campaign.
The fact is that over the past decade, the federal bureaucracy has expanded substantially in both size and cost while simultaneously becoming significantly less competent. The governmental machinery—which encompasses not just the current cabinet and its legislative allies but also the entire executive and judicial structures—has become increasingly ineffective. While it can issue press releases and allocate funds, it is failing to implement programs effectively, irrespective of who is in charge.
The looming strike at Canada Post serves as a small yet illustrative case in point. The inability of the CBC to effectively “tell our stories,” regardless of the financial support it receives, highlights this issue further. An even larger example is the ongoing failure of the Phoenix pay system, which directly impacts public servants and demonstrates that, despite their willingness to address it, they lack the capability to do so.
Moreover, there is a significant risk surrounding the urgent need to upgrade the Old Age Security’s antiquated computer system—an issue that is currently under the radar. Additionally, the state of defense procurement is so dysfunctional that even if Canada aimed to bolster its defenses to placate the U.S. or ensure national sovereignty within a more Western-aligned framework, it would struggle to procure the necessary equipment while facing recruitment challenges. The same incompetence inhibits our ability to address various external threats, from financial crimes to espionage.
It’s uncertain how much consideration Mark Carney, his colleagues, or Pierre Poilievre and his associates have given to understanding why our previously efficient public service has devolved. They certainly did not address it thoroughly during the election, aside from the Tories’ mockery of a “broken government” and the Liberals’ derision of such claims as borderline treason. Now that the Liberals are in power, it has become their challenge.
And thus, it is also our challenge. Because if nothing functions effectively, nothing will succeed.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Epoch Times.
