The federal government’s increasingly bloated bureaucracy continues to put a strain on taxpayers.

The federal public service has added 108,793 employees since 2016, a 42% increase, while Canada’s population grew by 14% during the same period. The private sector workforce grew by 14.7% from 2016 to 2024, indicating that the federal bureaucracy’s expansion has significantly outpaced private sector growth.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) reported that federal personnel spending has grown by 73% since 2016, reaching $69.5 billion in 2023-24. Despite the increase in personnel and spending, federal departments have consistently failed to meet performance targets. Nevertheless, over $1.5 billion in bonuses have been awarded to federal employees since 2015, with 90% of executives receiving annual bonuses.

Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, criticized the expansion, stating, “Taxpayers are getting soaked because the size and cost of the federal bureaucracy is out of control.”

Federal institutions have experienced significant increases in executive positions and salaries, raising concerns about fiscal responsibility and governance. The information was detailed in a government response to an Order Paper question submitted by Conservative MP Scot Davidson (York—Simcoe).