A taxpayer’s rant

The Toronto garbage strike drags on, inconveniencing citizens there. Bus drivers in Ottawa went on strike earlier this year and after it ended, drivers were churlish with customers, buses ran behind schedule, and fares got hiked. Then in late June came news that $15 million in gold was apparently stolen from the Royal Canadian Mint.

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We might ask: are taxpayers getting value for their money? A resounding NO has to be the answer. It has been such for a long, long time. These latest boondoggles are just more of the same, most of which never sees the light of day thanks to the culture of covering up and obfuscation that prevails in the civil service. It’s really about time taxpayers demanded and received more value in the provision of public services. Why are unions allowed to go on strike in sectors where government is the only legal provider? Unions + monopoly supply = gouging the user. There are no market forces to restrain the whims of public sector unions. Disputes in these sectors should be resolved through arbitration and follow private sector benchmarks. More...

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