IN THE LEDGE – Why is government prioritizing more political spin doctors?

Excerpt from Question Period in the B.C. Legislature today (March 3, 2025), in which Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar questions Finance Minister Brenda Bailey about hiring.

Peter Milobar: Well, that is astounding that the minister is trying to give us a lecture on accuracy of statements in this House. Three times now over the last month and a half or so, this minister has stood up with great fanfare talking about hiring freezes in the B.C. public sector and how they’re going to bring costs under control, how they’re going to get things under control because despite, by their words, a good economy, we’re running record deficits. Lord help us if the economy falters.

So let’s look at that time frame, what has happened with this government. In that time frame, this minister has signed off and the cabinet has signed off on 36 new hires and promotions, 19 of them directly under the Ministry of Finance’s direction. These aren’t front-line workers. No, no, no. These are public affairs officers, marketing officers, issues management directors, and it’s all partisan spin doctors.

Why is this government prioritizing more political spin doctors over front-line services?

Hon. Brenda Bailey: Thank you to the member opposite for the question. We have brought in a hiring freeze for our public service. This is an important hiring freeze that allows us to essentially flatline our public service growth, and you’ll see that continuing in the budget that we’ll be introducing tomorrow.

The way that it works is that when there is a vacancy, that vacancy is evaluated as to whether it’s needed, and there are many examples where we need to fill those vacancies. There are also many examples where we don’t. That decision is made very carefully by the head of the public service under guidelines which are being followed.

Peter Milobar: It’s very clear that this government has lost their way. We have no clear direction on the tariff file. Their cabinet minister in charge of that all-star team seems to be more worried about the state of triplex construction in Oak Bay than dealing with the tariff issue.

Now we have this minister talking about hiring freezes when the record shows the exact opposite. If, in fact, it’s a shifting of numbers of people to flatline as the minister is talking about, I’ll remind the government this is a government hanging on by a thread because they’re supposed to be getting propped up by the Green Party.

[2:10 p.m.]

Perhaps the Green Party would like to know that in southern British Columbia right now, as we speak, the Ministry of Environment is actually removing front-line, on-the-ground biologists and other workers so the government has $4.2 million to put on paycheques for government spin doctors.

Why is this government prioritizing the hiring of spin doctors over staff in the Ministry of Environment that work on the ground daily?

Hon. Brenda Bailey: There were many things in that dog’s breakfast of a question, but I’ll speak originally and first to the question about tariffs. To suggest that we have not been moving forward on tariffs is ridiculous. We have been stepping in strongly on this question in a number of different ways. Our Premier has been leading provinces, very involved in the response across provinces and with the federal government, responding very strongly as part of Team Canada — deeply important.

We’re working on diversifying our economy, both at home and abroad. Minister Gibson has been doing excellent work across the province on this important question.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members. Shhh.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: We’re focused on strengthening our economy.

You asked the question, Member. I’m giving you an answer.

Interjection.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: Among many other things, the member has also said that somehow we’re hiring more people into marketing roles. The truth of it is GCPE staffed down in anticipation of the election. That’s actually good fiscal management, knowing that their services would not be as needed.

Interjections.

The Speaker: Members, shhh.

Hon. Brenda Bailey: They’ve been staffing up since, saving us money.

Source: BC Hansard