Strong words for the Standing Committee on Government Operations about the government's reliance on outsourcing good jobs

On October 24, 2022 President Jennifer Carr appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) to discuss the nefarious effects of outsourcing on our members, public services and Canadian taxpayers.

PIPSC is widely recognized as the leading subject matter expert on the issue of contracting out. We have prepared several reports on this critical matter that clearly illustrate how contracted-out work involving the security of the government's IT systems and the data that they house results in higher costs, lower quality services, less transparency, less accountability and the loss of institutional knowledge and skills. This work should undoubtedly be performed by public service professionals.

But Information Technology is not the only profession where the government spends vast sums on contracted services.

With retention and recruitment an ongoing issue in remote and isolated First Nation communities, the government has been using private sector employment agencies as a band-aid solution for years. Parachuting in nursing staff on a temporary basis leaves these Canadians without the consistency and quality of care they deserve. It also opens the door to outright privatization in what should be the public delivery of health care. There is no doubt that it would be far more cost effective to invest in a fully-funded, permanent public sector solution.

The fight against outsourcing is about fairness. It’s about giving Canadians reliable services. And it’s about no longer wasting time and resources on failed outsourced projects such as the disastrous Phoenix pay system.