A public service is any service that a government or an official body provides to benefit all members of a society or community, whether they be citizens or non-citizens. It can be delivered by the public sector, by financing private provision of services, or through a combination of both. It is often associated with a social consensus (expressed through democratic elections) that certain services should be provided and made available to all, regardless of their economic status.
Whether they work for the federal or provincial government, or for an international organization like the United Nations, there is no doubt that public servants are dedicated to serving their constituents. They are expected to steward public funds, perform their jobs with integrity, and prioritize the needs of others above themselves. They also enjoy competitive wages, job security, and unbeatable benefits, such as 13 days of paid vacation per year, and a range of other perks.
But a debate over the size of Canada’s public service has become more than just a technical discussion about efficiency and budgets. It has morphed into an ideological battle over perceived political ideology, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre railing against what he sees as a bloated bureaucracy and Liberal Leader Mark Carney pushing for modernization and investment. Yet both approaches misdiagnose the problem. They fail to recognize that the effectiveness of a public service is not simply tied to its size. It is also a function of how well it can adapt to changing circumstances, deliver services that make a difference to people’s lives, and fulfill its mission.
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