Cannabis firm sues shipper
Check your travel medical
New orca rescue attempt
No bail in Ottawa killings 
Banks must say rebate 
Regulating power prices
Iran fires at attack drones 
World's largest election 
2 detained in Volkov attack 
Apple pulls apps from China
Oil and gas leases restricted
Indigo needs turnaround 
Warriors ready for Round 2
Kalamalka Bowl cancelled
Rockets live to fight on
Hilton teams up with Sia
Swift still 'can't forgive' Kim
Grimes to ‘cap the disarray’
From time to time, I receive requests to cover specific topics in my weekly reports to local citizens.
Recently, my Summerland office received a request from an individual wanting to know how much employment has changed within the federal government during the pandemic.
Although the data for 2021 is not available, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat does have this information available for 2020, which can be compared to 2019.
In 2020, the total number of FTE (full time equivalent employees) working within the Public Service of Canada was 300,450.
This is an increase of more than 12,000 positions since 2019 when the total number of FTE positions was 287,983.
How do today’s number compare to historical trends?
In 2010, the furthest date back this information is publicly posted, there were 282,980 FTE positions.
Total FTE positions in the public service does not include paid consultants.
Recently, the Financial Post reported the growth of paid consultants in Ottawa.
As the Globe and Mail reported the “costs for “professional and special services” are expected to hit
$16.4 billion by 2022.
In 2015, the year this current government came to power, this amount was $9.5 billion.
Before I close, I would like to share a few words I believe most citizens in the Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola riding share.
We are collectively shocked, saddened and outraged at the discovery of an unmarked grave site for
215 children at the former Indigenous residential school in Kamloops.
This discovery is difficult to put into words.
While we have had an emergency debate in Ottawa on this horrific discovery, the Prime Minister has also stated:
"Canada will be there to support Indigenous communities as we discover the extent of this trauma and trying to give opportunities for families and communities to heal."
For the record, I stand with the Prime Minister and, as the Official Opposition, we will be supporting the work of the government, working in partnerships with Indigenous communities, to help ensure they receive support and accountability for this dark part of our past.
I would in particular ask that we all think of the Tk’emlúps teSecwe?pemc First Nation that made this deeply disturbing discovery.
I would also ask that we remember many families in Indigenous communities throughout our region that had children in residential schools. Many of them did not return.
I don't have a question this week.
Please consider what we can do to support our local Indigenous communities that have been so deeply impacted by this loss.
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
