Trim and efficient is the goal of the provincial government when it says it intends to reduce the size of the civil service by 15 per cent over the next four years.
But will efficiency be the outcome or will taxpayers wind up losing needed services?
The government announced in last spring's provincial budget a plan to lower the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions in the civil service by 15 per cent over four years.
That means a reduction of 1,933 positions out of 12,718 FTEs, with a goal for the first year of 528 fewer positions -- 219 of which were eliminated at the time of the budget.
Ken Ludwig, executive director of organizational effectiveness with the PSC, says with three months left in the budget year, the government is likely to actually exceed the goal for the first year.
The move was launched as part of a cost-cutting budget as a means of improving efficiency and "shrinking the footprint" of government.
"It really is an opportunity for us, for every operation, to look at whether we're focusing on the core business, whether we're doing what the province needs the government to be doing in areas or not and if we're doing things the most efficient way," Ludwig said in a recent interview.
But Bob Bymoen, president of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union (SGEU), charges there is little transparency around the process to show there are actual savings.
While the number of civil service jobs may be going down, the union believes there has been an increase in work being contracted out by the government -- at a higher cost.
"I see it as a political ploy, a political move on (Premier Brad Wall's) part... it makes the people feel the government is cutting. But on the other hand he knows services have to be provided," says Bymoen. Cost cutting is a good thing, especially today in economically uncertain times, but that said as Bymoen points out, transparency is crucial.
Cuts and improvements can't just look good on paper, they have to make a real difference for the taxpayers of Saskatchewan.
Heading into a fresh new year, leading Canada in many areas, we have to be prudent to keep the ball rolling forward and there's no question that will involve tough choices.
