Good afternoon. Thank you for this opportunity to present on behalf of ACFO. We are North America's largest union exclusively representing accountants, comptrollers, auditors, and financial professionals. We're speaking today on behalf of more than 4,600 dedicated federal public servants.
This committee has been tasked with finding ways to make Canadians and Canadian businesses more productive and competitive. As you prepare recommendations for the federal budget, I urge you to remember that our productive, world-class public service represents a tremendous competitive advantage for Canada. A recent study out of the U.K. confirmed this fact. Canada's public service generally and our financial management professionals specifically are among the world's best.
Maintaining our place among the world's best will require work. Canadians and Canadian businesses rely on quality and professional public services to be productive and competitive. The services we deliver and the resources we provide serve as a critical foundation upon which the economy is built. The renewal of the institutions that deliver those services has to be done right.
Too often that important renewal work is taken out of the hands of the people best placed to do it. Too often governments rely on consultants rather than listening to the people who know the system best. In the particular case of financial management and accountability, this too often means hiring multinational firms that spend the bulk of their time actually advising clients on how to invest less in public services through aggressive tax planning and the abuse of costly loopholes.
This outsourcing also comes at incredible cost. In 2011, during the height of the previous government's strategic and operational review, the government was paying one such consulting firm $90,000 per day.
This government pledged in budget 2017 to undertake top-to-bottom reviews of three departments this year, with more reviews to follow. Last week, the President of the Treasury Board announced that this year's reviews will be done at Health Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, and the Canada School of Public Service. We are calling on the government to rely on its own in-house expertise for these reviews. With world-class capabilities in public service financial management and accountability at its fingertips, there's no reason to look outside.
That's why our recommendation is that the government rely on its own financial management professionals to develop the framework for these departmental reviews and to carry out the reviews. After all, the goal is to ensure that spending is aligned with priorities and programs that deliver results for Canadians. We understand public finance. We understand value for money. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities of working in the public sector. It's not a conflict to engage my community in departmental reviews; in fact, it's what we exist to do. My job as an accountant in the public service is to give non-partisan, unbiased advice to the minister on how to best execute the mandate.
These reviews could be coordinated by the office of the comptroller general and carried out by the auditors and financial officers in each department. Their reports would then go to the minister's office or even to the operations and estimates committee for greater transparency and accountability. This model could be subject to impartial review by the Auditor General for additional accountability.
Why outsource to consultants and contractors whose job is to make sure they win their next contract? Why hand over the keys to profit-driven companies not bound by the same integrity and accountability rules as public servants? Why pay $90,000 per day for advice that is better provided by people you're already paying? Instead, turn to experts in public finance and accountability. Turn to the people who have committed to serving the Canadian public and will have signed an oath to do just that.
Acting on this simple recommendation will also have a bigger benefit. The legacy of downsizing and outsourcing has led to an over-reliance on expensive consultants, contract employees, and a part-time workforce. In this era of precarious work, the public service should be a model employer setting an example for others, not a participant in the race to the bottom.
This government has promised to restore respect for the public service. The repeal of anti-labour legislation and the respect shown for basic bargaining rights have been an important first step. Now it's time to reinvest in our capacity to serve Canadians. This recommendation will do that.
Our reputation around the world is good, but unless we invest in our own capacity, that reputation is at risk. Using public servants to carry out departmental reviews will send a strong message to the public service and to Canadians about the value of the institutions we all rely on. Invest in this competitive advantage and ensure that all Canadians can rely on quality public services as they make their own contributions to our economy.
As you can see from our written brief, we've made additional recommendations around financial reporting and ways to extend this government's commitment to tax fairness. I'm happy to answer any questions about any of our recommendations.
Merci.