Finance committee  We have in fact come up with some solutions in the past and through working.... I point to one particular initiative in Public Works and Government Services Canada called “Get rid of it”. Management and union went through, working together, to identify basic wastes, and they were

Finance committee  Absolutely, and if we didn't mention that in the brief, then I'm sorry.

Finance committee  I won't take long. I appreciate that. My members are very concerned. Professionals are concerned. We're watching what's happening in other countries, including Britain and Greece. For us, we need to proactively work with government and identify ways to help save money. Who bette

Finance committee  I think you're absolute right, there's a place for it. It's just when it becomes out of whack, when we see some of the examples that I've mentioned in the brief, it's obvious it could be better served by having a full-time public service person working in it. There are legitima

Finance committee  Yes, I believe the Auditor General has talked about it. I think it was mentioned in the Public Service Commission report.

Finance committee  I'm not exactly sure what the response was, to be honest.

Finance committee  Yes. We're of the view that it is being driven by factors of convenience. The staffing process does take a long time. However, although it's convenient, it still costs more money in the long run, so even if it's convenience, it's the processes that we have to look at and change.

Finance committee  That's good. It's always nice to meet a member. There's an election coming up, by the way. You might want to vote for me. Mr. Chairman, distinguished members, thank you for your invitation today. Our written submission to the committee addresses three areas: contracting out in

Government Operations committee  There's some information that the consolidation of 473 positions across departments could result in the work being done by under 30 workers--those types of things. What strikes me the most about this is that the clerk comes in and talks about this stuff, but where is the consulta

Government Operations committee  It's a sound pension plan, and we should be bringing the level of pensions up for Canadians generally. This is a mode we should aspire to. So if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Government Operations committee  He was looking for our assistance, I suppose, on where we could offer solutions to the government. We had promised that, that we would try not to cut the public service as has been done in the past, but perhaps there are other ways than just looking at the traditional cuts, ident

Government Operations committee  Yes, and not only that, it facilitates the fact that it will never be back inside. Once it's outside, then the whole security issue becomes a serious issue for Canadians. It's hard to get it back once it's out there.

Government Operations committee  Exactly. When the expertise resides outside, you don't develop it inside. Then you're forever dependent on it.

Government Operations committee  Yes, very briefly, the furlough Fridays and those types of approaches are regressive approaches. You need a proactive approach. For example, the National Research Council cut positions. These are supposed to be the innovators that are going to bring Canada into the global economy

Government Operations committee  As my colleague mentioned, they have to find the savings somewhere. What happens is that you have professionals in the workplace who need professional development in order to keep current. I mean, the world moves forward, and it's a small place, so you have to have professional d