Trudeau’s team looks to spend their way to nirvana

Once again, a federal government has unveiled a budget that “puts people first.” One that pledges to create a “more equal, competitive, sustainable and fair Canada.” One that vows to demonstrate an “unwavering commitment to equality of opportunity.” Everyone can go home now.

Except that the government, even in the face of a booming economy, seems unable to keep its spending under control. Its projected deficit for 2018-19 is $18.6 billion. Even projecting to 2022-23, well past the mandate of the current Liberals, the deficit will still be $12.5 billion.

Yes, it’s all very good by the standards of G7 countries, but in a nation of healthy growth and very low unemployment, the budget reveals a clear belief that the country can continue sprinkling money around on its way to nirvana.

Ah yes, but surely it is spending on worthy things. There is, for instance, much more help for Indigenous Peoples. There’s more flexibility for parental leave. More money for science.

And there are those little things that count: Renewing small craft harbours! Research on the spruce budworm! ParticipACTION! Even funding for federal election debates.

And happily, the city of Ottawa will see that long-anticipated partnership between Library and Archives Canada and the Ottawa Public Library to build a grand new edifice on LeBreton Flats.

On the other hand, while the government intends to create a national pharmacare plan, there is no cost-benefit analysis associated yet with that NDP-flattening aspiration.

There is also no costing for another signature budget announcement: new pay-equity legislation that will apply to the federal government, Crown corporations and federally regulated industries, such as airlines or banks.

The budget reveals a clear belief that the country can continue sprinkling money around on its way to nirvana.

For many of the 400,000 or so public servants and associated government bodies such as the RCMP or CRA, more robust pay-equity laws may prove a real benefit.

This budget speech says that across the economy, women make on average only 69 cents for every dollar men make. In the core public service, which does better, women earn on average just over 91 cents on the dollar for work of equal value to men. The new legislation could also have an impact on the 800,000 employees of federally regulated industries, where women earn about 88 cents for every dollar earned by men for work of equal value.

And while there already is a Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act, federal experts say it is mostly complaint-driven; the new legislative framework would put clear onus on the employer to ensure equality from the get-go.

Good, yes? But what will it cost? Finance Canada cannot provide even a rough estimate. When your government dishes deficits as if it were handing out chocolates, you want to know.

But let’s assume the payroll changes over time won’t be trifling. Which brings us to the Phoenix pay disaster.

In its current state, Phoenix messes up almost any pay change a public servant experiences, from overtime to raises. Imagine the added complexity of large-scale pay changes under proactive equity legislation. One wonders: Shouldn’t you ensure everyone is getting paid reliably now, before introducing more churn?

The government is ducking this, saying only that changes envisioned under the new payequity law are still a few years away, and surely Phoenix will be fixed (or something) by then. Uh-huh. This assurance comes from a government that once pledged only $10-billion deficits. Yup, everyone can go home now.