Editorial Losing jobs, gaining control

First of all, it’s unlikely that anyone will actually be put out of work as EMR trims jobs from its various sections. Attrition will account for some of those positions. Also, other programs such as the new Canadian Exploration Incentive Program with its added administration needs (a step backward, but that’s a different story) will pick up some of those jobs. Add to that transfers within the government service, early retirement and individuals moving to the private sector, and it appears that the personal hardship of being out of work will be kept to a minimum.

EMR has a fairly good record of trying to meet the need of trimming government fat without undue hardship on its employees. In the last four years there have been almost 400 jobs lost in the department, but only 13 of those have been involuntary layoffs.

The other danger of cutting jobs is that services will be reduced. With the mining industry operating at peak capacity, making its greatest contribution to the economy in years, there is the fear that maintaining momentum could be hindered by a lack of support from the public sector if its contribution is cut.

In fact, most of the reductions in the department come through changes in government policy that can only be applauded. Almost half of the jobs lost are from the energy side of the department, and those losses come largely because of the government’s wise decision to wind up the National Energy Program. As further deregulation takes effect, other programs are being “sunsetted” accounting for further job losses.

Some of the job losses may well be merely on paper, as well. For example, the federal department has to assume that several of the Mineral Development Agreements with the provinces that are scheduled to wind up in March will not be renewed. Therefore, it has to plan to lose jobs associated with those agreements.

In reality, however, the MDAs have proved to be very worthwhile in developing joint federal-provincial programs to generate geoscientific research, geophysical and geochemical surveys, infrastructure development for mining areas and other projects. In Ontario alone, a provincial progress report on the 5-year MDA invo lving that province says 33 of the 55 projects have resulted in visible impacts. Therefore, it is highly likely that the agreements will be renewed. If the MDAs are renewed, those jobs slated to be lost will be reinstated.

So with people’s livelihoods unthreatened and with the delivery of service reasonably assured, cutting back on the payroll taxpayers must shoulder by cutting these jobs was the right move.

In the end, these job losses are just one small step in the over-all objectives of reducing government spending, allowing the private sector to regain control of its own fate and generally fostering the evolution of a more flexible and vigorous trading nation.

]]>