Canada's Federal Employment to Population Ratio

At the same time as Prime Minister Mark Carney was capturing the world’s attention from the lectern in Davos, the federal government  was issuing layoff notices to nearly 15,000 public servants.

Fiscal discipline will be important, as Canada navigates the tumultuous years ahead. But state capacity from the federal public service will be necessary to pivot trade relationships and foster new economic development.

This week’s chart shows that by historical standards, the size of the federal public service is not overly bloated. Making cuts in the midst of a tremendous pivot puts the quality and care of that pivot at risk.