It seems more tough slogging lies ahead for the public sector in sa国际传媒 Although the provincial government is already several years into an austerity drive, the end is nowhere in sight.
Surplus assets have been sold, hiring was long ago halted, there is a freeze on management salaries and travel. And more than 1,300 jobs are being eliminated.
But although annual spending growth has been held close to zero in most ministries, apparently that鈥檚 not good enough. Premier Christy Clark and her cabinet have decided that additional savings must be found to balance the budget.
The need for frugality is certainly real. The economy continues to sputter. Resource revenues still have not returned to pre-recession levels. Taxes have already been raised.
These are, in short, difficult times, and government must pull in its belt, just as working families are doing. The question is how best to proceed.
Clark believes the answer is to conduct an 鈥渆xhaustive and comprehensive鈥� review of the entire public sector that 鈥渓eaves no stone unturned.鈥� This 鈥渃ore review,鈥� and the fallout it generates, will last until December 2014 and possibly longer.
Under scrutiny are 鈥渢he mandates and program-delivery models of all ministries, boards, commissions, Crown agencies 鈥� schools, universities, colleges and hospitals.鈥� The objective is to cut spending by $100 million over two years. In passing, it might be observed that such a gargantuan endeavour will probably use up a good chunk of the $100 million, since most of the government is being diverted from its task.
But is it really necessary to thrash through every nook and cranny in this manner? After a prolonged period of austerity, surely the point of diminishing returns has already been reached. This is more like drip torture than management.
The real problem doesn鈥檛 lie with the public service. It lies in political overreach. What we need are leaner appetites at the cabinet table, not more bashing of teachers and social workers.
Some examples: The minister of citizens鈥� services and open government spends $26 million a year on 鈥渃ommunications and public engagement.鈥� Consider us well and truly engaged, and cut the $26 million.
The minister also demands $260 million annually for 鈥渋ntegrated workplace solutions,鈥� and another $26 million for 鈥渢echnology solutions.鈥� Leave some of these solutions for another day, and save $50 million.
Destination sa国际传媒, a Crown corporation, lays out nearly $50 million each year promoting the province as a tourist resort. The hospitality industry is fully capable of doing this work. Cut the budget by half and save $25 million.
That meets the savings target of $100 million, without turning the entire public sector inside out. Some other options?
What does the minister of agriculture鈥檚 鈥淪trategic Industry Partnership鈥� accomplish that justifies a $35-million budget? (It seems everything in this government is 鈥渟trategic,鈥� 鈥渋ntegrated鈥� or a 鈥渟olution.鈥�)
Why does the minister of jobs, tourism and skills training spend $5.5 million a year on a 鈥淐ompetitiveness and Small Business鈥� initiative? Surely small businesses manage to be competitive by themselves.
And why is the government allocating $350 million for a massive computer system to build personal dossiers on every citizen of the province?
A half-hour walk through the provincial budget reveals numerous such expenditures that appear, on the face of it, less than essential. No doubt there are elements of value in some of them.
But if money really is short, what鈥檚 needed is the political courage to dump some of these pet projects, not another ransacking of the bureaucracy.
Perhaps we do need a core review. But cabinet decision-making should be the focal point. The public service needs leadership and sacrifice at the top.
