Roundup: Revolving door alarmism

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Oh noes! Civil servants take positions in ministers’ offices! How terribly partisan of them! Yes, it’s time for another head-shaking column from some of our more alarmist media friends, bemoaning sweetheart deals and revolving doors, but as usual, it lacks all pretence of nuance or much in the way of a reality check on the way things work. I find it mystifying that someone would rather have a twenty-something fresh out of university, whose only real qualification is loyalty to the PMO, filling those ministerial office positions rather than professionals with years of experience in the department. Because while yes, some civil servants went to work in ministers’ offices in the Conservative years, there were a lot of these twenty-somethings on power trips, trying to play power games with departmental officials, which one presumes that people who have civil service careers would be less likely to do. And yes, they get good salaries in those positions, but they’re also a) quite ephemeral given the nature of party politics, and b) enormously stressful jobs that have some people working eighteen-hour days, and they should be compensated for it. And the “revolving door” back to the civil service afterward? Again one asks why they shouldn’t be able to translate government experience into the civil service, particularly if they’ve gained some policy expertise? So long as they perform their duties in a neutral fashion once back in the civil service, I’m not seeing why this is a problem. We need good people doing public service in this country, and we have already set up so many barriers that make recruitment a real challenge for anyone not being bridged in from school, and the growing list of restrictions makes work in ministerial offices increasingly unattractive because their post-political opportunities have become increasingly limited. If we’re not careful, all of our political staffers will be twenty-somethings trying to get experience rather than established people of substance, and I’m not sure that’s a situation that anyone relishes.

Good reads:

  • Shared Services Canada isn’t just an utter gong show, it’s also caused huge problems with the RCMP, from shaky 911 service to corrupted files needed for evidence.
  • Here is an amazing read about the way drone operators were traumatized doing their jobs in Afghanistan, and how our system hasn’t been helping them cope.
  • Justin Trudeau was at the UN talking gender equality and bidding for a seat on the Security Council in 2021.
  • The Canada 150 infrastructure fund that the Liberals used to decry as an electoral slush fund is now under their control, and they insist they’re managing it better.
  • CRA is turning over information to the IRS thanks to the FATCA agreement, and the minister was advised against taking any action on it.
  • The Conservatives want the government to reconsider Davie Shipyard’s unsolicited bid for additional ships, while official documents say Seaspan isn’t entitled to other contracts.
  • Surprising no one, Brad Wall still doesn’t understand how equalization works. (Hint: It’s not levels of government writing cheques to one another).
  • Trudeau said that the dropped RCMP investigations into the Senate show that there’s a need for more transparency in the institution.
  • The Ambassador of Religious Freedom is starting with a Christian thinktank while he serves out the balance of his term, and the fate of the Office is decided.
  • The government spent $6 million to upgrade military bases for Syrian refugees, which didn’t end up needing it. (But hey, they have refreshed barracks now).
  • The Canadian Press’ Baloney Meter™ looks at the government insistence that the previous government reprofiled First Nations education funding.
  • Chris Selley notes that many of the complaints about Thomas Mulcair were really things that started under Jack Layton.

Odds and ends:

There is an e-petition to bar Trump from the country. Because of course there is.

Toronto will host Prince Harry and his Invictus Games in September 2017.