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How the Canadian Government can save money: 1. The procurement process The procurement process for federal contracts and consulting now largely relies on Standing Offers for services of professionals. Such supply arrangements are typically sourced via placement or temporary help firms, who in turn provide the department or agency with the required professionals or expertise. They do so at a significant markup – 20-30% on top of the service provider’s per diem. As a professional service provider who was previously able to deal directly with departments and agencies and can no longer do so, I resent a regime which has caused serious income loss for myself and others. As a taxpayer, I resent the thousands of dollars clients need now pay to secure such services. The Government can save money by reverting to the former system and strengthening it to prevent the abuses of the past. Any savings claimed by PWGSC are offset by the agency markup and the loss of tax revenue resulting from service providers who no longer can contribute. Money could also be saved by not making
bilingualism a mandatory requirement in most RFPs, thereby severely limiting
the pool of service providers largely to those in
Money could also be saved by using staff internal to an agency (e.g., Transportation Safety Board) to conduct special assignments instead of hiring ex-public servants or ex-members of such agencies, currently receiving generous pensions, to function as “consultants”. 2. Fitness Incentive Program Reward those who stay fit via exercise etc., sending a message than obesity is not “OK”. This saves money on future health care costs. 3. Abolish the Senate 4. No further financial support for visits by the monarchy. 5. An in-depth audit of what government documents are considered necessary to translate – millions could be saved at minimal political cost. 6. Fixed elections, every four years. 7. Eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. I am sending a separate email on how to improve your consultation process. Dr. Paul Harwood |