Government workers face new boss on Hill
Published by Patrick January 24th, 2006 in CFIA, Canada Revenue Agency, Federal Election 2006, Parks Canada, Stats Canada, Treasury Board Tags: cashman, election-2006, news.After 12 years under the Liberals, government workers across the nation’s capital woke up to a new boss Tuesday morning.
“I feel a little bit like a virgin on her wedding night. It’s exciting, but there’s fear and trepidation to see what’s coming next,” said Ed Cashman, vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada in the National Capital Region.
Despite some anxiety, Cashman believes public service employees are bound to benefit from the new marriage.
One immediate advantage of the new Conservative goverment, in Cashman’s view, is the end of Reg Alcock’s term.
Alcock lost his Winnipeg South riding to Conservative Rod Bruinooge by just over 100 votes. Appointed by Martin to the cabinet as president of the Treasury Board, Alcock was much disliked by the public service sector, says Cashman.
Some public servants hope that the shift in power translates into the revisiting of issues such as bilingualism and language training.
During Lucienne Robillard’s time as the Treasury Board president, she brought in stricter bilingualism requirements for public servants. This was criticized by some as promoting those with language skills over others who perhaps had better overall skills.
But experts say there won’t be drastic changes any time soon, and predict the new government will exercise caution when approaching changes in the bilingualism policy.
Others worried about a purge of the public service can rest easy, says Leslie Pal, who teaches public policy and administration at Carleton University.
Pal says Harper’s virtual silence on the public service bodes well, and compares that silence with Brian Mulroney’s vocal animosity for the public service back in the 1980s.
He adds that this neophyte government needs the experienced public service on its side, and that, if Harper’s smart, he will recognize they are key to getting things done.
“That may give the advantage to the public service in the sense that they’re going to be showing everybody where the washrooms are and how to organize their meetings and stuff like that.”
CBC Ottawa: http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/story/ot-newboss20060124.html