25.1 REDUCING THE OUTSOURCING OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Whereas #1 in 2015, the Federal Government pledged to reduce
outsourcing/contracting of programs and services while increasing the requirements for outsourcing/contracting; and
Whereas #2 since 2011, the cost for outsourcing has risen by 13.5% per year resulting in the Federal government spending a record $17.8 billion for such services in 2024; and
Whereas #3 Government outsourcing has created a shadow public service of
consultants and temporary staff operating alongside the government workforce that has resulted in higher costs, lower quality services, less transparency, and less accountability for Canadian citizens, along with the loss of institutional knowledge and skills; and
Whereas #4 Government contracting becomes a self-perpetuating system in that it creates an amount of dependence on the contractors who design and develop the programs as they ultimately not only control the system but only they have the knowledge to operate it or fix complex problems when they arise; and
Whereas #5 the Government’s outsourced programs and services are not subject to the Employment Equity Act and the Public Services Employment Act and therefore, are not required to provide equal opportunities for marginalized groups, such as women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and racialized people, nor promote merit, accountability, transparency and representation based on language, region and gender; and
Whereas #6 contracting out programs or services raises certain risks for privacy as the Privacy Act, the law that covers the personal information-handling practices of federal government departments and agencies, was enacted more than 30 years ago and was not designed for the current digital age that allows for the rapid and easy movement of information around the globe; therefore be it
Resolved #1 that the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) adopt as policy that the Federal Government substantially reduce the outsourcing of services and programs with the goal of creating a public service that protects national security, is financially prudent, more transparent, accountable, fair, equitable, and representative of Canadian society, and be it further
Resolved #2 that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to substantially reduce the outsourcing of services and programs by actively recruiting personnel with specialized knowledge and skills into the public service and creating development and training opportunities inside the public service.