The Issue
The Alberta Government has paid $150 million in bonuses to civil servants over the last four years.
Why It's Important
Bonuses appear to be given out at a Minister's discretion. How can a civil servant remain independent of politics when his bonus, which can be up to 30% of his salary, depends on the whim of the departmental Minister? Are bonuses really a way of rewarding Conservative Party faithful within the civil service?
On March 18th, Rick Bell wrote in the Calgary Sun:
This year the bonus bucks are set at $40 million while senior snivel servant salaries with those extra dollars... well, in recent years, the individual with the fancy-pants title of deputy minister of executive council has gone from $301,000 a year to $376,000 to $401,000 to $460,000.
Nice work if you can get it. Don't bother. And how do we find out about this bonus bonanza? You'd be right if you guessed the Tories didn't stage a spin doctor extravaganza to roll out the barrel.
No, last week, in a committee meeting, an MLA asks a question about real fine print in a document showing bonuses of a million-plus in one department.
Hugh MacDonald, an eagle-eyed Liberal MLA, wonders to himself if other provincial government departments have a bonus plan and he goes over the books and, lo and behold, every one but agriculture and Premier Ed's cabinet department pony up cash. And we find out those departments fork out bonuses as well, but forget to write it down.
Hugh is startled when his calculator shows the final figure. It heads to the $40-million mark. It is then Hugh raises questions about what he calls "the lavish perks."
The Tory government tap dances, which is what they have done every time they get into trouble since 1971 when they won power.
What Should Be Done
The bonuses were brought in during 1999 to keep civil service wages competitive. Well, $460,000 sounds reallly competitive. It is time to get rid of the bonuses, examine the pay level of some senior bureaucrats, and ensure that politics and pay levels are kept separate. Only by doing so can Albertans ensure that the actions of its civil service are in the best interest of all Albertans and not just Conservative Party faithful.
