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In the 2012 federal budget tabled by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, there is mention of reducing the number of public service positions by 19,000 over the next five years, however, data from the Parliamentary Budget Office shows that so far this not the current trend.

Instead of the amount of public service jobs decreasing, they have in fact increased in many departments such as Border Security, National Parole Board, Department of Defense, RCMP, and The Canadian Security Establishment- just to name a few.

The increase of staff in these departments is not overly shocking when taking into account the Harper government’s pre-occupation with expanding the Canadian justice system.

Government spokesperson Josee Picard told the Canadian Press June 29th that the staffing increases were reflective of a need to maintain the abilities of emergency management.

“[Departmental increases reflect] strengthening emergency management capacity, critical infrastructure protection, and federal emergency response capacity."

Despite the documented increase in public service within positions related to security and justice, Jessica Fletcher, a Spokesperson for Heritage Minister James Moore, told the Canadian Press June 29th, Heritage Canada would almost be cut in half by 2015, when compared to the number of staff which existed in 2008.

"By 2015 the Department of Canadian Heritage will be nearly 40 percent smaller than it was at the start of the economic downturn in 2008," Fletcher said.

The Parliamentary Budget Office documents show 34,000 people were added to the public service between 2006 and 2012. This means there is still much work needed if the Conservatives want to meet their self-imposed target of reducing the public service by 19,000 positions in five years.

To make the kinds of cuts discussed in the 2012 federal budget, positions would need to be cut from departments that the federal government seem to be fond of, such as departments related to security or the justice system.