Cross with Cross

Re “Public Service Trough Week” by Philip Cross, June 25 Yes, the counter-Conservative push by unions is deplorable, but to cast the public sector as a whole in this mould is ludicrous. The fact is that the Canadian public service is seen around the world as exemplary in professionalism and enjoys an almost total lack of the corruption one finds elsewhere. While many public servants perform mind-numbing tasks, many are in the forefront of scientific development, international treaty negotiations, social and economic policy formulation etc., all in support of front line ministers of the Crown and in contact with business leaders.

Philip Cross seems to ignore or be unaware of the cachets of business leaders in terms of significant bonuses, retention and otherwise, large severance payments and contributions towards retirement pay and scandalously significant salaries and bonuses in many sectors such as financial. Some years ago, when I was employed at the senior executive level in the public service, an independent private sector body recommended major catchup increases in compensation which the government of the day turned down in favour of only marginal changes.

E. J. Ward, Toronto

I read the editorial, “Public Service Trough Week” with interest and dis- appointment. I was disappointed to learn of Cross’s condemnation of his brother and sister public servants’ achievements, with whom he spent 36 years working alongside at Statistics Canada. His article fails to grasp the average public servant’s lot. I know several “overpaid” public servants who struggle to raise families on the salary and benefits Cross refers to.

As a member of the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada, I have been advocating along with my peers to achieve recognition of our legal and human right of collective bargaining since 1995. Our members achieved this in January this year after taking the matter all the way to the Supreme Court.

Leland Keane, Officer, Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada