One thing that the federal government disclosed near the end of 2013 was the fact that they have decided not to disclose salaries of most of their employees. The fact that it's your money being used to pay them, is of no consequence. It's just that well, I guess it's just that it could be embarrassing.
In case you haven't realized it yet, this is a hide-and-seek government we're having to deal with and payroll disclosure just isn't in their comfort zone. A private member's bill to provide pay disclosure was at first agreed to, and then mutilated by the PMO before it got to a vote.
In the seven years of the current PM's reign, the federal public payroll has gone from $28 billion to $44 billion. At least, we believe that's the case. They haven't issued a budget or real financial statement since 2010.
Salary and severance disclosure thresholds were raised to just over $440,000. All those who have been paid less than that, escape scrutiny.
The average federal salary has gone from $86,000 in 2006 to $114,000 in 2012 and will be at $129,000 by 2015 if all goes according to the plan.
It has also been learned, through scraping in dumpsters, that about 95 per cent of the federal employees on performance bonus plans manage to get them. We understand the bar is set rather low. In other words, if you don't commit homicide or call the PM a nasty name over the course of the year, you get your bonus. It's sorta like setting a performance level of one goal per season for Sidney Crosby. Score the goal and double your unreported salary. At least in Sid's situation, we know what he does and what he's paid.
Now, why I'm doing a mini-rant on public servant salaries, I don't really know. It's just that when I read about the non-disclosure tricks and the figures that somebody was able to dig out of the trash, I got a little excited. Then, of course, I was able to find the fun in the report.
Did you know that the feds have lost $3.1 billion in the Enhanced Security department? These are the guys who are supposed to be tracking terrorism suspects. Somehow that fact doesn't leave me with a wholesome feeling of comfort.
It seems the Enhanced Security folks can't remember who got the money and don't know how to find it. That makes me wonder how efficient they'll be in finding terrorists.
Did you also know there are 2.9 million more Canadian Social Insurance Numbers for people over the age of 20, than there are Canadians to carry them? That makes me wonder just who might have them? Terrorists, anyone? There are $140 billion in government programs that are based on the SIN system. But don't fret, the federal government's high-priced help is on it just trust them.
They're supposed to be buying new helicopters and jet fighters too. That's kind of scary seeing as how the recent outfitting of the navy has gone. They spent $125 million of your money re-doing a Canadian icebreaker that wasn't really in need of a retrofit and didn't need to be redone. Never mind, at least it was completed, even if it was $74 million over budget. Those four lousy submarines we bought over 12 years ago, still can't function in water. So what could go wrong with buying airplanes?
Hey, just as long as 50 per cent of them can actually fly, we could be well ahead of the game in terms of past purchasing performances.
Naw, we don't need no stinking accountability from the federal government. They're doing a bang up job. You're getting great value for your money just ask them or your favourite senator.
