Liberals and NDP promise to unmuzzle public servants
Public service and management issues don’t typically get much mention in election campaigns, but both the Liberals and NDP are promising to change the work of Canada’s public servants and the relationship with their political masters.
The Liberals proposed a package of reforms for a “fair and open government” that would invariably affect the work of public servants. At the same time, the NDP is calling for reforms aimed at restoring the deteriorating relationship between politicians and public servants.
“If we had one strong recommendation, it would be to let public servants think again, to speak again and for politicians to actually listen to their sage advice,” said Ottawa Centre NDP MP Paul Dewar.
Both parties promised to unmuzzle scientists and return to evidence-based policy advice, two of the big issues for the 17 federal unions.
Neither party, however, proposed a new set of ground rules or a charter for the public service that some experts have argued is needed to protect the neutrality of the public service. A charter for the public service was recommended by the Gomery inquiry into the sponsorship scandal that cost the Liberals the 2006 election.
A number of the measures in the 32-point plan to “restore democracy” that Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday would affect what public servants do and how they deliver services to Canadians. The party would:
■ Amend the Access to Information Act to open up more information, including in the PMO and ministers’ offices, as well as administrative institutions that support Parliament and the court;
■ Expand open data and give Canadians easy access to their personal information;
Ban partisan government ads using public funds and appoint a commissioner to oversee advertising;
Appoint a chief science officer to ensure scientific analysis is used in policy and decision-making;
Make Statistics Canada independent and restore the mandatory long-form census;
Set performance standards for services offered by the federal government, complete with streamlined application processes, reduced wait times and moneyback guarantees; and,
Create individualized, secure online accounts for Canadians who want to access all their government benefits and review key documents.
Ralph Heintzman, a University of Ottawa professor who wrote a paper on the need for a new charter for the public service, said the Liberal plan is a “good start” and its commitment to evidence-based policy-making will be “very welcomed” in the bureaucracy. He said the Liberals are also the first party to put a focus on service to Canadians in an election platform.
But he said both parties have yet to address the key issue dogging the public service — the confusion over its role in a rapidly-changing world. He argued the Liberals’ ban on partisan advertising will help stop the politicization of communications in government.
“When we have the Prime Ministers Office ‘24 Seven’ propaganda videos now on every department website, that is a much bigger issue and much more corrupting for the public service. That indicates the need for a definition on what is the boundary between politicians and non-partisan public servants,” Heintzman said.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper came to power on the back of the Gomery inquiry into the sponsorship scandal, promising to restore accountability and transparency in government. The reforms of his signature Federal Accountability Act were aimed at public servants and other public officials, which many argued created a culture of fear and a “web of rules.”
The Conservatives didn’t implement most of Justice John Gomery’s recommendations, which were aimed at rebalancing a power imbalance between MPs, prime minister and cabinet.
“When we talk about the cult of accountability, we’re not talking about politicians and senators. We’re talking about public servants. The FAA and other measures brought in by the Harper government focused on the accountability of unelected officials, not politicians,” said David Mitchell, president of the Public Policy Forum.
But Ottawa South Liberal MP David McGuinty said the Liberals’ measures would improve the accountability of politicians while creating a much-needed “attitudinal change” that would restore trust and respect between public servants and politicians.
“The starting point is to stop brow-beating and, frankly, intimidating public service. A degree of fear permeates the ranks of the public service at all levels that is not helpful and does not allow us to get the best out of the public service,” McGuinty said.
The NDP’s proposed reforms for the public service include a Public Appointments Commission, stronger protection for whistleblowers and a code of conduct for ministers and their political staff as recommended by the Gomery commission to stop political meddling and “ensure culture of respect.”
Gomery singled out ministerial aides in his report, arguing that their roles should be clarified in a code and the jobs professionalized to ensure they don’t meddle in the work of public servants.
The NDP would also rein in temporary-help agencies and the amount of work outsourced to contractors.
“It’s time for a new improved relationship between government and the public service,” Dewar said.
“Beyond changing specific policies, what is really needed is a change of attitude. Past governments, especially this government, distrusted and disrespected the public service.
“An NDP government would revitalize and strengthen the public service’s capacity and restore the trust and respect they need to do their jobs in the interest and service of all Canadians.”