Budget 2012 - First Look

The Federal Budget has now been tabled, and below are some salient numbers mainly related to PCH, as well as some government-wide impact bullet points.  This information was compiled by Jesse, the Regional Policy Officer, shortly after the budget was released.

We'll be posting more information in the weeks ahead, as we get more specific interpretations from our Deputy Ministers, Regional Managers and official responses from the PSAC.

BUDGET FIRST LOOK:

PCH & PORTFOLIO

• $17.8 million in 12/13, $24.4 million in 13/14, $4 million in 14/15 = $46.2 million
• Canada Council and national museums have no reductions
• Within portfolio, CBC takes biggest hit @ $115 million.  Total portfolio reductions over three years are $191.1 million

ARTS & HERITAGE

• "The Government recognizes that arts and culture is an important generator of jobs and growth"
• Travelling Indemnification Fund is strengthened by raising limit
• CCSF's role in EAP is highlighted (along with Nat'l Arts Training Fund, Periodical Fund and Media Fund)
• 1812 & Diamond Jubilee are highlighted and linked to 2017

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

• "Economic Action Plan 2012 will continue support for official languages by maintaining funding to protect, celebrate and enhance Canada’s linguistic duality."

OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

• FedDev is reduced by $22 million over three years
• PHAC is reduced by $68 million over three years
• HRSD is reduced by $183.2 million over three years
• CIC is reduced by $71 million over three years
• DFAIT is reduced by $168 million over three years

WORKFORCE IMPACT

• "The planned reduction in departmental spending is expected to eliminate about 12,000 government positions over a three-year-period, with affected individuals qualifying for collectively bargained workforce adjustment measures. This number takes into account attrition—largely retirement or other voluntary departures."

• In total, federal employment will be reduced by about 19,200 or 4.8 per cent. To the largest extent possible, the Government will use these vacancies towards redeploying individuals whose jobs have been affected by the spending reduction. The planned reduction in employment includes the elimination of about 600 executive positions, or 7.4 per cent of the executive workforce, bringing the level of management overhead more in line with private sector best practices."

• "A large proportion of full-time-equivalent reductions will occur in the National Capital Region. The regional distribution of employment in the federal public service will be largely unaffected by the implementation of the departmental spending reductions."

• "Where possible, the Government will use natural attrition and internal redeployments to mitigate the impact on permanent federal employees. The Government will strengthen workforce information sharing across federal departments to ensure that hiring managers can be easily linked with affected employees."

PUBLIC SERVICE PENSION PLAN

• "The Government proposes to adjust the Public Service Pension Plan so that public service employee contributions equal, over time, those of the employer (50/50)."

OTHER NOTES

• PCH is placed in budget section entitled "Supporting Families & Communities"