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.