PM TO GIVE CIVIL SERVANTS A VIEW OF THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD

Prime Minister Paul Martin is expected to lay out his views on the challenges facing Canada in light of the realignment of global economic powers in a speech to senior civil servants today. The speech, expected to last more than one hour, is intended to give the beleaguered civil service a “sense of accomplishment” for the job it has already done in a number of departments to meet the challenges brought on by the emerging powerhouses of China and India, said a senior government source. It is not expected to lay out a specific fall agenda, said a source. Rather, it will describe the “big picture challenges Canada must confront and opportunities it must seize.” The sources said the speech will expand on an address the Prime Minister delivered to the Empire Club and Toronto Board of Trade in May in which he outlined the opportunities this new world order presents for Canada, but it will also catalogue what the government has already successfully achieved to meet these challenges. Government insiders say despite the criticisms their minority government has taken this past year over its controversial legislative agenda, not to mention the damage caused to the morale of the public service as a result of the Gomery inquiry, it has actually accomplished a great deal including passing the budget and balancing the books.