Latest news with #Enns
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
More than half of Canadians want cuts to the federal public service: poll
OTTAWA — More than half of Canadians think the size and cost of the federal public service should be reduced in the coming years, a new Leger poll suggests. The poll indicates that 54 per cent of respondents want the federal bureaucracy cut, 24 per cent want it maintained and four per cent say it should get bigger. The poll suggests 17 per cent of respondents were not sure what should happen. The poll, which was conducted online and can't be assigned a margin of error, cites federal records that indicate the government has added almost 99,000 employees since 2016 and personnel costs have increased by more than 70 per cent. Conducted by Leger for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the poll suggests that half of Canadians say the quality of federal services has declined since 2016. Almost a quarter of Canadians polled say they believe the quality of services has remained stagnant, while 11 per cent say those services have improved and 16 per cent are unsure. While Prime Minister Mark Carney promised during the election campaign to cap — not cut — the size of the public service, most departments and agencies have since been asked to find program spending cuts of up to 15 per cent by 2028-29. A recent report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said the public service could shed almost 60,000 jobs over the next four years as Ottawa looks to cut costs. Andrew Enns, Leger's executive vice-president for Central Canada, told The Canadian Press that the poll is timely given the planned fall budget and "noise" from the federal government about looking at the size of the public service. He said the poll suggests there is a widespread belief among Canadians that the civil service is "on the large side" and needs to shrink. Enns also said Canadians don't feel they're getting great value in exchange for the increase in the size of the public service and there's a strong sense that "something has to happen." The poll suggests that Quebecers and Albertans are most strongly in favour of reducing the size and cost of the public service, at 62 and 61 per cent. Half of Ontarians and 53 per cent of people in B.C. also said they'd like to see a reduction. Just over a third of respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 said they'd like to see a reduction in the size and cost of the public service, compared to almost half of people aged 35 to 54 and 71 per cent of those aged 55 and older. Enns said those older voters, who played a large role in Carney's election win, are "pretty strongly convinced" the public service is too large and isn't performing as it should. "In that sense, the argument is probably even stronger for the government to take some action here," Enns said. Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the size of the federal bureaucracy has "ballooned" since 2016 and the cost to taxpayers has gone "extremely high." He said the polling shows that a bigger public service doesn't equate to better services for taxpayers. "The government has to cut spending and the government has to shrink the cost and size of its bloated bureaucracy," Terrazzano said, adding that his organization will continue to push for spending cuts. Arguing that "the government is broke," Terrazzano pointed out that Carney promised to balance the operating budget in the recent election and that interest charges on the federal debt are costing taxpayers. "Prime Minister Mark Carney, he should look at these polling numbers, he should listen to Canadians and he should know that Canadians support cutting the size and cost of Ottawa's bureaucracy," he said. The polling industry's professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025. Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Majority of Canadians are in favour of federal public service cuts: poll
OTTAWA — More than half of Canadians think the size and cost of the federal public service should be reduced in the coming years, a new Leger poll suggests. The poll indicates that 54 per cent of respondents want the federal bureaucracy cut, 24 per cent want it maintained and four per cent say it should get bigger. The poll suggests 17 per cent of respondents were not sure what should happen. The poll, which was conducted online and can't be assigned a margin of error, cites federal records that indicate the government has added almost 99,000 employees since 2016 and personnel costs have increased by more than 70 per cent. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Conducted by Leger for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the poll suggests that half of Canadians say the quality of federal services has declined since 2016. Almost a quarter of Canadians polled say they believe the quality of services has remained stagnant, while 11 per cent say those services have improved and 16 per cent are unsure. While Prime Minister Mark Carney promised during the election campaign to cap — not cut — the size of the public service, most departments and agencies have since been asked to find program spending cuts of up to 15 per cent by 2028-29. A recent report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said the public service could shed almost 60,000 jobs over the next four years as Ottawa looks to cut costs. Andrew Enns, Leger's executive vice-president for Central Canada, told The Canadian Press that the poll is timely given the planned fall budget and 'noise' from the federal government about looking at the size of the public service. He said the poll suggests there is a widespread belief among Canadians that the civil service is 'on the large side' and needs to shrink. Enns also said Canadians don't feel they're getting great value in exchange for the increase in the size of the public service and there's a strong sense that 'something has to happen.' The poll suggests that Quebecers and Albertans are most strongly in favour of reducing the size and cost of the public service, at 62 and 61 per cent. Half of Ontarians and 53 per cent of people in B.C. also said they'd like to see a reduction. Just over a third of respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 said they'd like to see a reduction in the size and cost of the public service, compared to almost half of people aged 35 to 54 and 71 per cent of those aged 55 and older. Enns said those older voters, who played a large role in Carney's election win, are 'pretty strongly convinced' the public service is too large and isn't performing as it should. 'In that sense, the argument is probably even stronger for the government to take some action here,' Enns said. Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the size of the federal bureaucracy has 'ballooned' since 2016 and the cost to taxpayers has gone 'extremely high.' He said the polling shows that a bigger public service doesn't equate to better services for taxpayers. 'The government has to cut spending and the government has to shrink the cost and size of its bloated bureaucracy,' Terrazzano said, adding that his organization will continue to push for spending cuts. Arguing that 'the government is broke,' Terrazzano pointed out that Carney promised to balance the operating budget in the recent election and that interest charges on the federal debt are costing taxpayers. 'Prime Minister Mark Carney, he should look at these polling numbers, he should listen to Canadians and he should know that Canadians support cutting the size and cost of Ottawa's bureaucracy,' he said. The polling industry's professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Team Toba is off to the races
Winnipeg On July 29, Team Manitoba — which consists of over 370 athletes from all corners of the province — unveiled the uniforms it will be sporting throughout the 2025 Canada Summer Games, which will be taking place in St. John's, NL. from Aug. 8 to 25. Mondays A weekly look at news and events that matter in your communities. Over 4,000 athletes, coaches and managers are scheduled to compete in a wide array of seasonal sporting events, which include team games such as baseball and solo competitions such as kayaking. This year's official flag bearer for Team Manitoba — who will be the first to enter the ring and represent the province — will be Luke Enns, a 19-year-old kayaker. Enns was the recipient of the annual Tom Longboat Award, presented by the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports & Recreation Council (MASRC), last year. Photos by Emma Honeybun
Vancouver Sun
19-07-2025
- Vancouver Sun
Province denies responsibility for Lions Bay landslide that killed husband, wife
A debris flow that killed a Lions Bay couple was caused by natural events — an 'act of God,' the provincial government said this week in response to a negligence lawsuit launched by the victims' family and neighbours. The B.C. government added in its response in B.C. Supreme Court that if alleged 'illegal works' — that include a gravel road and a small reservoir — caused or contributed to the debris flow, the province was not responsible for those works and took reasonable and appropriate steps as regulator and landowner. Lions Bay is located in steep, mountainous terrain along the Sea to Sky Highway. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The Enns were killed on Dec. 14 when a debris flow carrying mud, rocks and trees cascaded down the Battani Creek ravine about 750 metres and swept away their house. The debris also hit the busy Sea to Sky Highway. The court filing, for the first time, provides a position from the province on the landslide. Last January, the province said the cause of the landslide remained unknown and was still under investigation. So far, the province has provided little detail on its oversight, saying they could not comment because of a continuing RCMP investigation into the deadly landslide. This week, the province declined to answer questions on whether it had determined a cause yet or whether the investigation was complete. 'This matter is before the courts so we cannot comment,' said the Water, Lands and Natural Resources Ministry in an email sent by public affairs officer Lee Toop. The negligence lawsuit against the province claims the debris flow was 'caused, or alternatively contributed to,' by the allegedly illegal construction of the roads and small reservoir on provincial land. 'Since at least 2013, the province knew or ought to have known of the illegal works on Crown land and that these illegal works posed a serious risk to the residents, their properties and members of the public, including users of the Sea to Sky Highway,' said the family and neighbours in their civil claim. The suit was filed on April 16 by Enns's children Barbara (Jody) Dyer and Michael Enns, the executors of their parents' estate. The plaintiffs also include Michelle Medland and Sean Barry, and Fiona and Raymond Fourie, the Enns's neighbours whose properties are also beside Battani Creek. The plaintiffs are also suing the Village of Lions Bay and Steven Vestergaard, the man who built roads and a small reservoir high above the properties of the couple and their neighbours. The village and Vestergaard have denied any wrongdoing in their responses to the negligence suit. Dyer and Enns are seeking damages for the wrongful death of their parents. The Enns's children and the neighbours are also seeking general and special damages. Those include damage and destruction to property, decreased property value, expenses, loss of use and enjoyment, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In its response, the province denied the claimants suffered any damage, and said if they have, they did not take adequate steps to mitigate the loss or damage. The province said the death of the Enns was not caused by a wrongful act, neglect or default. In its court filing, the province said it does not owe a duty of care — an obligation to avoid acts or omissions that could cause harm — to the plaintiffs. If it did owe a duty of care to the plaintiffs in the circumstances of this case, which is denied, the province said it did not breach that duty. 'In particular, but without limitation, the province undertook regulatory action, including trespass notice and requiring remediation steps, and warned the residents respecting applicable risks,' said the province. 'If the defendant Vestergaard continued illegal activities on Crown land after such trespass notice and requirements for remedial action, which is denied, such activity was conducted without the knowledge of the province.' In his response to the negligence suit, Vestergaard said there is no evidence he contributed to, or was responsible for, the slide. Previously, Vestergaard provided documentation showing work to reduce slope failure risks at the reservoir was signed off by a professional geoscientist as 'satisfactorily completed' in 2015. Vestergaard said he spent $400,000 on slide prevention, engineering and remediation on the reservoir and an access road about a decade ago. The reservoir was meant to provide water to Vestergaard's private property that covers the equivalent of about 4½ city blocks. No home has been built and the property is now in foreclosure, according to B.C. Supreme Court records. In a previous response, not related to this court case, the province said following an inspection in 2014 of the reservoir by one of its senior geotechnical engineers, Vestergaard procured the services of qualified professionals to address concerns. ghoekstra@
Vancouver Sun
11-07-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Canadians drastically downgrade climate as a priority, poll finds, as economic concerns escalate
OTTAWA — One of the key barriers that seemed to be facing the Carney government's plans to fast-track big projects designed to boost the Canadian economy — namely, climate concerns — appears now to be not much of an obstacle at all when it comes to public opinion. A new Leger poll released Friday asked Canadians about what they thought were the biggest challenges facing Canada. Trade and tariff issues and U.S. relations were No. 1, at 20 per cent. But climate change, one of the federal government's key objections in recent years to building or expanding pipelines, ports and other big projects, was way down the list, a 'third tier' issue, said Leger executive vice-president Andrew Enns. Prime Minister Mark Carney could find the shift makes his life easier as he faces calls to roll back the imposing climate policies of the previous prime minister , including a planned emissions cap on oil and gas production, electric vehicle mandates, an oil tanker ban off the B.C. coast, plans to force fossil fuels off the electricity grid, and hostility to oil development and pipelines. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Just four per cent of respondents listed 'climate change/extreme weather' as the No. 1 issue facing Canada today, putting it in eighth place among the 14 top issues offered as choices. That's in sharp contrast to a similar Leger poll conducted in 2019, Enns said. Back then his data show that 'fighting climate change' ranked as the third most frequently cited priority (by 30 per cent), just a few points behind taxation and 'jobs and the economy' (both 35 per cent). In that poll — conducted prior to prior to the pandemic, six years of mostly sluggish economic growth, rising prices and a trade war with the United States — respondents were asked to choose the two issues most important to them. Enns said environmental issues have tumbled over the ensuing six years into the 'third tier' of public concerns, as Canadians are seized with economic issues, including tariffs, housing prices, immigration and inflation — all of which were ranked by poll respondents as more pressing than climate concerns. 'These things hit people directly,' said Enns. 'We all prioritize.' While 20 per cent of poll respondents identified 'tariffs/(President Donald)Trump/U.S. aggression' as the top issue; inflation and rising prices were given top spot by 18 per cent; housing affordability by 11 per cent; 'state of the economy' by 10 per cent; health care by nine per cent; and immigration by six per cent. 'Government debt/deficit' and 'high taxes' tied with 'climate change/extreme weather,' as chosen by four per cent. The poll was taken well after weeks of news of huge wildfires this summer in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and Central Canadian heat waves in June. Brian Lee Crowley, managing director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said that more Canadians are becoming aware of the costs of years of climate change policy, particularly when it comes to developing the country's energy and other natural resources industries. The previous prime minister, Justin Trudeau, had made climate change a top priority, often downgrading other considerations at its expense, particularly economic development and resource exploitation, making sacrifices other countries were not. 'They're saying it's not a trade-off I want to make,' Crowley said. By contrast, one of the Carney government's first pieces of legislation is the One Canadian Economy Act, It allows the federal cabinet to fast-track major infrastructure projects, including resource development, by identifying them as being in the 'national interest' and bypassing the normal environmental regulations and approvals. (The specific laws to that effect are in the Building Canada Act, contained within the larger One Canadian Economy Act.) The legislation, which has been criticized for giving the federal government too much power and discretion, became law late last month. Upon taking office in March, Carney moved quickly to scrap the consumer portion of Canada's carbon tax. He has indicated he would be open to approving a new oil export pipeline. And he met earlier this month with the chief executives of Canada's major auto producers, who pressed him to cancel or delay the federal mandate that electric vehicles must comprise at least 20 per cent of new auto sales by 2026 and 100 per cent by 2035. In March, when Carney was first sworn in after winning the federal Liberal leadership, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith presented a list of nine demands that would be necessary to reset relations with the West that had been battered during the Trudeau years. All of them were related to cancelling Liberal environmental policies. Last week, the environment ministers of Alberta and Ontario issued a joint letter asking Carney to abandon 'net zero' policies they say are holding back Canada economically. 'We are hopeful that (the Carney government) will move away from policies and legislation that undermine competitiveness, delay project development, and disproportionately harm certain (regions) without any quantifiable benefit to the natural environment,' they wrote. Crowley said Canadians are now more aware that Canadian wealth and jobs are tied directly to its natural resources and its ability to get them to market as efficiently as possible. 'I think that message is starting to get through to a lot of people.' Crowley added that the Carney government is still in its honeymoon phase but that these helpful poll indicators show the prime minister — who recently won an election victory from the jaws of certain Liberal defeat, thanks to a fortunate turn of external events — once again has timing on his side. 'I think he's led a bit of a charmed life politically,' Crowley said. The poll sampled 1,546 adult Canadians between July 4-6. A probability sample of this size yields a margin of error no greater than plus or minus 2.49 per cent 19 times out of 20. stuck@ National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here .
