Art Eggleton

[Questions On The Order Paper, June 22nd, 1995]

The February budget announced a reduction in the size of the public service and the federal sector as a whole, including the military, separate agencies and crown corporations, as a result of program review. An estimated 45,000 positions will be affected over three years.

The figure 45,000 is not on its own a target but is the result of the government's program review decisions, whereby a number of programs and activities are being reduced, eliminated or re-engineered. It is an estimate based on the overall savings targets established in the budget and the structure of program costs.

During the government's program review some estimates were derived of how the downsizing is expected to unfold, broadly speaking.

For example, about 6,000 jobs will be transferred to the private sector. There will also be some natural attribution through voluntary departures and transfers.

Two separation programs have been put in place to assist organizations to cope with their personnel downsizing: early retirement incentive, ERI, and early departure incentive, EDI. Projected take-up for each program is included in the tentative allocation of projected reductions in personnel set out in the following table.

Question No. 190-

[Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act, June 19th, 1995]

moved that the bill be concurred in.

[Public Service, June 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, these are challenging times for the public service as we carry out a downsizing brought about by the need to cut government spending in order to meet our deficit reduction promises.

Our employees are dedicated, committed people and I think they deserve recognition. They have carried out a great many innovations. There are many examples of excellence in the work they do and I do not think there is any better time to celebrate the fine work done by the public service.

The public service of Canada is among the best in the world.

[Pensions, June 12th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, it will be up to each member of Parliament. Once the bill has been proclaimed, members will have 60 days in which to make a determination whether they want to be part of the plan.

If the member wants further information he has only to look at the public accounts to determine what goes into MP pensions. What is in MP pensions, what is contributed by the taxpayer, the government wants to reduce and that is part of its reform.

[Pensions, June 12th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the government is not trying to hide anything. It is trying to reduce the cost of MP pensions. Even though we have had suggestions to increase the size of the payroll of MPs coming from the very party that now asks the question, nevertheless we are proceeding on course to reduce by one-third the cost to taxpayers of MP pensions.

[Supply, June 7th, 1995]

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

[Supply, June 7th, 1995]

moved that the bill be concurred in.

[Supply, June 7th, 1995]

Mr. Chairman, it is my pleasure to intform the House that the form of the bill is the same as that passed in previous years.

[Supply, June 7th, 1995]

moved that the bill be read the second time and referred to committee of the whole.

[Supply, June 7th, 1995]

moved that Bill C-97, an act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the Public Service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 1996, be read the first time.

(Motion deemed adopted and bill read the first time.)