Stop taking us for fools. Every year, the federal government hands out management bonuses like candy. But anyone can see that public service management is no better or worse than the year before. The government needs to stop pretending that bonuses are awarded for exceptional performance.
In reality, they’re starting to look more and more like a regular salary in disguise. In other words, these bonuses are a ploy—a way to offer managers a lower base salary so as to not upset anyone, while substantially inflating their take-home pay without getting any real value in return. Aside from ham-fistedly pointing at areas where departments and agencies will have to make public service cuts, what has management actually contributed this year? The answer is obvious.
Bonuses during cutbacks
In this time of belt tightening, the $146 million in bonuses paid to hundreds of managers could have been used to maintain essential public services for Canadians. Some of that money could have gone toward saving the Agriculture Canada Research Centre in Quebec City to prevent the loss of valuable expertise.
In short, the federal government should focus on delivering public services rather than shelling out huge bonuses to a few hundred managers.
Sébastien Paquette
Regional Executive Vice-President, Quebec
Public Service Alliance of Canada