Public service workers deliver the programs that keep Canada running — from disaster response and border security to pensions, infrastructure, and income support. These essential services are delivered by dedicated professionals across the country, and their stability depends directly on political decisions.
This tool offers a fact-based comparison of where the major federal parties stand on key issues affecting public services and the workers who deliver them.
Each section outlines the most current known positions of each party. Voters deserve to know who will protect public services—and who will put them at risk.
Reckless cuts to public services — especially during times of population growth and rising demand — lead to longer wait times, reduced program access, and increased costs. Public services function best when delivered by public service workers. But successive governments have increasingly relied on expensive outsourcing contracts, costing taxpayers billions and eroding internal capacity. A government that prioritizes service delivery should focus on strengthening — not shrinking — the federal workforce.
Canada’s public healthcare system is a cornerstone of equity and national identity. But pressure from privatization and workforce shortages are eroding access and affordability. People in Canada deserve a system where care is based on need, not ability to pay. A strong federal commitment to healthcare means investing in frontline workers, reducing wait times, and defending universal, publicly delivered care.
Public service workers, along with many workers in other sectors, contribute to their pensions with every paycheque — and they deserve the retirement security they've earned. Recent attempts to siphon pension surpluses without improving worker benefits set a dangerous precedent. Undermining pension stability not only puts federal workers at risk, it threatens the integrity of the entire Canadian pension system.
A government that values workers must defend secure, defined-benefit pensions and reject efforts to weaken them.
A well-resourced public service is critical to national security, economic resilience, and sovereignty. From defending borders to enforcing tariffs and supporting global stability, frontline public service workers are essential. Investments in staffing, research, and capacity-building help Canada respond to economic uncertainty and international threats. The incoming Canadian government will have a responsibility to protect people in Canada from threats stemming from the Trump administration, and an opportunity to expand Canada’s contribution on the world stage.
Attacks on equity communities are rising across North America. Canada and the federal government must be a leader and champion human rights by addressing systemic inequities. This includes upholding Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights along with those of racialized communities and people with disabilities. It also includes strengthening protections for women including barrier-free access to reproductive healthcare.
Free and fair collective bargaining is a Charter-protected right and a universally recognized human right. Workers need a government that protects unionization, upholds labour standards and ensures decent wages and working conditions for all.
Housing must be a public good, not a speculative asset. As costs rise, homelessness grows, and affordable units disappear, governments must take bold action to ensure secure, affordable housing is available to all.
Education should be a public benefit, not a burden. Students, staff, and researchers deserve stable funding, fair working conditions, and accessible, high-quality education options across Canada. Canadian universities and their world-class researchers have a critical role to play in progressive global development.
Telework has transformed the public service for the better. It increases productivity, improves work-life balance, and opens up opportunities for workers in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. It also saves taxpayers money and helps attract and retain talent. A modern public service must embrace flexible work models — not roll them back.
Authorized by Public Service Alliance Canada, 233 Gilmour Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0P1, 1-613-560-4200