Civil Service Expansion Under Trudeau: A 43% Increase in Nine Years

The size of Canada’s civil service has surged by more than 43% during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s nine years in power, significantly outpacing the country’s population growth of less than 15% over the same period. According to recent data published by the federal Treasury Board, the federal government’s payroll included 367,772 persons as of March 31, compared to 257,034 on March 31, 2015, the last full fiscal year under the Harper Conservatives. This represents an average annual growth rate of over 3.6%, double Canada’s population growth rate of about 1.6% per year.

In both 2021 and 2023, the civil service grew by more than 6%, in contrast to the Harper government’s final five years, during which the civil service consistently shrank. Treasury Board President Anita Anand justified the increase, stating, “To deliver the essential services on which Canadians rely, the public service adjusts its size according to government priorities and program requirements, with deputy heads ensuring workforce alignment with mandates.”

Anand highlighted the contrast between the current administration and the Harper government, noting that the latter’s deficit reduction action plan resulted in over 19,200 job losses and negatively impacted service delivery quality. “By contrast, we will always ensure our public service remains well-staffed and efficient in delivering the quality services Canadians expect and deserve,” she said.

Despite the growth, neither Anand nor other ministers queried by Global News could specify how the additional bureaucrats contribute to maintaining or improving service quality. The Privy Council Office (PCO), which serves the prime minister, exemplifies this growth, with its staff increasing by 77% from 727 employees in 2015 to 1,288 in 2024. When asked to explain the need for such an increase, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred queries to the PCO, which did not respond to information requests or media inquiries.

The government has committed to finding $4.2 billion in savings over the next four years, including the elimination of about 5,000 public service jobs through attrition. However, the specifics of how these savings will be achieved remain unclear. The civil service’s significant expansion under the Trudeau administration continues to be a topic of debate, particularly concerning its impact on the quality and efficiency of public service delivery.