Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Over the past few days, writers at the Toronto Sun have pontificated about whether public servants should be filling potholes or helping out in nursing homes (Sue-Ann Levy) or wondering aloud why they’re not being laid off since some are “doing nothing or close to it” (Brian Lilley).
Nothing could be further from the truth, with more than 60,000 public servants not only keeping pace with their busy jobs, but also tending to family care needs and some even squeezing in a little home schooling for good measure. While remote work has been a challenge, Ontario’s public service has been doing yeoman’s work—in and out of out of the office.
In a live press conference today, Premier Doug Ford responded to Lilley’s ponderings about layoffs, saying emphatically, “The government is still working, they are working remotely, but everyone is working… it’s not as if people have their feet up with a margarita in their hands!”
President Dave Bulmer expressed his thanks to the Premier. “A tip of our hats to the Premier for placing his trust in professional public servants throughout this crisis—and for his colourful defence in this instance,” he said. “The work of public servants has never been more important. AMAPCEO’s 14,000 members are giving their all to seamlessly continue Working for Ontario.”