Ah, but isn't this why a lot of people want the jobs in the first place?! Ironic really, and I've done the same - bitch and moan about how hard it is to get in - but once you're in, it's believed to be more protected than other jobs...which is why some people want them

I don't actually think they are much more protected than other jobs, they don't pay as well as most people think but there are exceptions. And I don't know anyone who thinks their union job is cushy - they work bloody hard with tight resources and tough staffing levels.

When looking at government job ads, it's useful to look at both the "essential qualifications" and the "assets/nice to haves".

You don't bother applying unless you meet the essentials.

The second set tells you if the process is rigged. If it's very detailed and specific, the successful candidate has already been selected and it's just a matter of going through the motions of staying legal.

Good to see an alternative view.

Sometimes I think Public sector v Private is the complete opposite to the UK in North America, so universal is the belief.

But when I really think about it, the same thing is said about Public Sector in the UK - overpaid, underworked, lazy, inefficient and all the rest of it - and I had 30 years working for the biggest government department in the most common grade and I know it to be absolute nonsense.

Where I may have my doubts over here is when I see public facing government workers and I think this is not the front line I was used to.

But then again would one look at the MoD at, say, Abbey Wood, Bristol which is more like a resort with its restaurants, library, sports facilities, training rooms, auditoria and conferences rooms, support facilities and a crèche together with landscaping and believe that was typical of the lot of government employees?

The Job for Life mentality of many government workers I run into in Ottawa is not a trait that I find endearing.

In my job I run into many municipal workers at the City of Ottawa. Many of them can be quite the bottleneck in seeing any progress on anything. Some of them leave for the private sector and then are the first to complain about the attitudes of the people at the City of Ottawa..when they, themselves often had the same work habits as those that they are complaining about. The irony of this however is lost on them.

The union jobs may not be cushy but the union shop mentality and done deal hiring practices is what bugs me. I wouldn't last long in that type of workplace.

our Daughter got a 'temp' job on contract with the federal government through a temp agency. She was in it for 26 weeks, no extension or further work in that sector.

She has found her best jobs through temp agencies, even permanent jobs with great pay (she considers $20/hr that) with benefits.

Here last permanent job through a temp agency lasted 3 years - she quit because she moved way too far away to travel to the job

She is currently on a temp assignment with the municipal government

Some of the 'contract' jobs do lead to permanent

It can drag you down. I worked for the Cdn govt while still in the UK. It took me little time to realise that I could get away with doing SFA while getting well-paid to sit in my cushy office in Mayfair. I had a sofa and armchairs FFS!

Most Cdn public servants would not last five minutes in the private sector.

My wife's colleagues were aghast when she told them last year that I'd summarily sacked someone. I didn't actually do the sacking but I'd told my MD to and he did. The entire process, from conference call to bin liner took about 30 minutes.

Some will ask the question why do we need Govt (Federal, Provincial & Municipal)
employees anyway.
Im thinking of going on vacation to X country.
1. Need a passport to travel Govt employs people to issue passports.
2. Book a flight and hotel no Govt workers involved in this process.
3. Arrive at the airport to check in no Govt workers again.
4. Need to go through security so encounter contracted out workers who work for a Govt Agency (CATSA).
5. Get on plane no Govt workers again but the aircraft is subject to Govt legislation to make sure it is safe to fly on as we all know how good self regulation works especially in the food preparation industry.
6. Arrive at destination and after 2 days passport is lost/stolen. Need to contact Govt officials to get new documents.
7. Arrive back home and need to clear Customs more Govt workers.

Out of those 7 simple steps Govt workers and legislation was involved in 5 of those. Im not saying the private sector could not perform the same 5 functions but you see the point on why the Govt employs workers.
Do you consider Police, Fire Service, Ambulance & Paramedics to be Govt workers or essential services? How about teachers, health care professionals and a host of others are they not Govt workers?
When was the last time you heard any Federal Govt Dept/Agency say we made X amount of profit in the last quarter or our earnings are down X% over this time last year.
Govt workers provide a service to those that require those services.
Private sector workers do the same but their employers are profit driven.
Both sectors can cut workers if needed.

No one did.

True and False. I did say some will ask the question so that could infer I was asking the question or asking on behalf of others.
So why do we need Govt workers?

Tax staff?

On another day on the forum...people bitching about slack co-workers, not thinking ahead, tolerating incompetence, doing the bare minimum, averse to change etc from BEers working in the private sector.

It's a wonder anything ever gets done.

Depending on one's philosophical and political positions societies may, or may not, need government workers in a range of positions. I doubt there's anyone here who would argue that there should be no government workers at all.

Come forward, man of straw!

Note that I haven't said all government employees have a cushy life nor that everyone in the private sector works hard. Still, if money is your primary motivator I think the private sector is more promising and if "quality of life" is more important then government calls. I do rather envy the quotaman I shadowed for a decade, he's retired now, having genuinely not done a stroke from the day was hired.

Seems fair enough.

JS, are you talking about municipal jobs in Chilliwack?

Or generally? If specifically Chilliwack, the union agreement etc is available on the Internet.... A brief glance seems to tell me that temp/seasonal positions are recruited by Chilliwack directly & not an agency.

On the municipal level, best chances are to be taken on as a temp or seasonal worker, prove your worth & line up "allies"/a good reputation for when & if a perm position becomes available.

Back when I worked in municipal gov, that's how I got my first foot in the door.

Now Chilliwack, previously I was trying with North Vancouver and Vancouver for awhile when I lived in that area.

Doesn't look like Chiliwack has anything open that meets anything I can do, they had some but those closed, so I have to keep an eye on them as see what happens.

My wife did apply for some admin jobs with the city though but hasn't heard anything.



I am sure some higher level jobs in public pay more in private, but for the lower level jobs they seem to pay a good 5-10 per per hour more in public sector vs the same type of job in the private sector.



I think the lack of official qualifications in anything is what hurts me more then anything else. The various gov't re-training programs seem to all require one be on EI or have been on EI within X amount of years.

I've never been on EI so none of those programs are an option.

The ministry does offer some re-training for folks on PWD but you have to be single, and have a child otherwise the program isn't open to you.

Since student loans ad private loans are not an option, hard to find ways to come up with the money needed.

I could have been done and had qualifications by now had I found ways to pay for it.


Grade 12 with 1 semester of college is all I have education wise, and I'd venture there are lots of applicants with various certificates and diplomas.

a few temps agencies do have my resume, they just never seem to have jobs.