Liberal leadership candidates split on whether to shrink public service

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to reduce the size of the public service if he becomes prime minister, and at least one Liberal leadership candidate agrees.

Liberal leadership candidates have contrasting plans for Canada’s federal public service — with presumed front-runner Mark Carney taking the most aggressive stance so far.

Carney recently vowed to cap the size of the public service and rein in government spending.

While he hasn’t said where this cap would be set or how much he would reduce spending, Carney told a press conference on Wednesday he would review program budgets and use new technology like artificial intelligence to improve efficiency.

“As a result, we will balance the operational budget within three years,” Carney said.

Rival candidate Karina Gould isn’t planning to trim the public service, her campaign said.

“At a time when our country is under threat, on the brink of a major trade war and Canadians’ jobs are on the line, now is not the time to make major cuts to the public service,” said Emily Jackson, a spokesperson for Gould. “We need public servants to do the big things Canadians rely on them for.”

During his first month in office, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose steep tariffs on Canada, including 25 per cent levies on steel and aluminum imports starting March 12. His threat of 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy, is currently on pause.

Jackson said that if Canada should need a major new program to provide income supports to keep people and businesses afloat in a trade war, sending the public service into turmoil would be the “wrong approach.”