Stockwell does math...poorly

Nearly $1.7-billion in promised cuts to government spending will come almost entirely from attrition in the public service, suggesting a relatively pain-free opening round as Ottawa begins to trim its record deficit.

Uh-huh.  Didn’t believe it in March, don’t believe it now.  Neither does Carleton University economics professor Frances Woolley.

“I think [the federal government] is being optimistic in saying they’re going to be able to make it through attrition," she said.

And this is why -

Treasury Board President Stockwell Day...said about 11,000 public servants vacate positions each year – mainly through retirement – and not hiring replacements will be Ottawa’s main source of savings.

Even if exactly 11,000 jobs were left unfilled, finding $1.7-billion in savings assumes the average compensation of the departing workers is $155,000, which she said is high. (No kidding!!!  The average is 68,000.00 and that includes executives) Further, pension obligations mean a retired public servant is not off the books. Internal transfers will also be a challenge, she said, because retirees are often leaving senior positions while cuts will likely affect more junior workers.

But hey, it’s a good excuse for harper to butcher his favourite kicking dog. 

And this affects non-public servants as well.  By not replacing 11,000 retiring workers, services, quality, and even efficiency will suffer through lack of sufficient staffing.  Like here.