Right. It may seem appropriate to ask somebody applying for a position that has economics as part of its profile, but there are a great number of questions about economics one can be asked that are not in fact related to a current government program which, unless somebody has had their head in the sand, has very clearly been a subject of not insignificant controversy over the last little while.
I will go back to that requirement that “public servants administer, and are perceived as administering, programs in a non-partisan manner”. With respect, right now, the perception in that request suggests a very strong partisan element.
So not having known about it, and given my concerns about the appearance, do you actually agree with the requirement, not that they be asked to comment on economics, but that they be asked to write a short essay specifically on this current government's economic action plan?