‘Core Review’: Code for an Attack on Public Service Workers?
Ron Bolin: Nov. 19, 2010
At the Special Meeting of Council held Monday, 2010-NOV-01, Councillor Jim Kipp put forward the following Notices of Motion: 1) “That Council direct Staff to start the process of a core service review.” And 2) “That Council direct Staff to report on the process of a zero based budget.” At the Council meeting of Nov. 8, these motions were put forward and passed.
On Nov. 9, Derek Spalding in the Daily News reported the success of Councillor Kipp’s motions.
On Friday, Nov. 12, Diane Brennan in her biweekly column in the Daily News wrote that a “‘Core review’ is code for privatization”. As evidence of the danger of such a move, she puts forward the core review done for Penticton: here , and here
Recent stories in the Penticton Western News: , appears to play to Ms. Brennan’s alarm. But do they?
Many, if not all, successful businesses perform core reviews internally on a regular basis and, I believe, the City of Nanaimo is no exception. They also from time to time institute reviews from outsiders, recognizing that the world is a large and rapidly changing place. This is the kind of review being proposed. The idea that somehow, somewhere in the wide world there might be ideas which could benefit Nanaimo’s taxpayers seems foreign to Ms. Brennan. Having worked in some of the better organized societies in the world -as well as some most charitably described as less so- I have learned that there are a lot of good ideas and unbiased eyes out there from which we can learn.
The story here rests on the integrity of Council and whether their motivation, as Ms. Brennan implies, is simply to root out public service workers, or indeed as they profess, to do their best to manage the $60+ millions of tax dollars which they take from Nanaimo property tax payers and the $130+ million budget which they manage on our behalf each and every year. Your views on this situation are welcomed.
Posts and Comments on Nanaimo Governance 
I certainly hope Council looks very carefully at the terms of reference for this core review. Will this also include provisions for regular job assessments for all employees, including management, on a regular basis. Accountability can be beneficial.
Ron:
Regarding the possibility of a core service review, I believe that you said that the motion passed by council at the November 8th meeting was, “That Council direct Staff to start the process of a core service review.”
Further to the above, is my understanding correct that after the motion was amended, staff were directed to report back to council on the content and estimated time and cost of a core service review?
Was a timeline put on either of the reports back to council? Doesn’t appear so.
You mentioned:
– “The idea that somehow, somewhere in the wide world there might be ideas which could benefit Nanaimo’s taxpayers seems foreign to Ms. Brennan.” – and –
– “They also from time to time institute reviews from outsiders, recognizing that the world is a large and rapidly changing place.”
From what I hear people saying these days, it seems to me that those, who are whining the most, appear to not be taking this fact into consideration … that, indeed, the world surely IS a rapidly changing place.
Also, my thoughts are that, until such time as the municipal election campaign financing rules are changed, so that contributions can be made by individuals ONLY, and not unions, (or land developers), I really do have to question how a municipal politican, (whose campaign is financed by unions), can be expected to be an UNBIASED decision-maker, when it comes to discussing matters that could perhaps have the potential to adversely affect a unionized civic employee.
Also, I find it interesting how even, when entertaining the thought of a consultant conducting a core service review, some politicians are thinking out loud about how the particular political philosophy of the consultant might impact the review! (I don’t recall this concern coming up at any other time, when councillors have directed that a consultant be used for other matters.) Wouldn’t have anything to do with polarized politics, now would it? :)
Janet;
The point about candidates donations, coming from individuals only. Something I have pondered from time to time: if a local developer decides to simply ‘gift’ a sum of money to an individual running for office, and the the individual funds their campaign from their own bank account……. who is going to be any wiser?
Not that I think that could happen in Nanaimo, but it could possibly, just maybe happen somewhere else.
Cheers
Jim
Donations arae like icebergs; we only see the top 20% or so!
Crime and fraud have not yet been eliminated in society in general so we can hardly expect it to be eliminated in elections. But we can make it more difficult. We could start by deciding whether dollars are more important than people in elections. One way to do this would be to either a) fund elections from the public purse, which would only work if we capped the number of candidates; or b) limit the amount which can be given by any individual or other “legal person” to a candidate and ensure that each contributor is listed in the election filing.
You can see who funded the candidates in our last election at:
http://www.nanaimo.ca/EN/main/departments/Legislative-Services/4609/12679/CampaignDisclosure.html
Does anyone know or have an opinion on why Mr.Bestwick was so heavily supported by the unions?
Wayne,
Does anyone know why Mayor Ruttan was so heavily supported by himself?
As for Mr. Bestwick, could he possibly vote to reduce union employee wages? Number of firefighters? Or do you suppose he might first look to management wage cuts to save money?
Just a couple of random thoughts.
Jim
Wayne Schulstad 25 November 2010 at 12pm asked:
Does anyone know or have an opinion on why Mr.Bestwick was so heavily supported by the unions?
Possible connection? – Isn’t Coun. Bestwick’s wife a member of the Executive of CUPE 606 Nanaimo Region?
Understand that the following were supported by CUPE BC:
Bestwick, Kipp, Fuller, McNabb, Unger & Brennan.
Understand that the following were supported by IAFF Local 905:
Bestwick, Pattje, Kipp, Holdom, McNabb, Unger & Brennan.
Understand that the following were supported by the Canadian Labour Congress:
Pattje, Holdom & Brennan.
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Rather than this attack upon those that reap the benefit of “Unions” why do we not ask that all Councillors publish ,up front before an election, those that back them financially & otherwise.
I am sure that the vested “free enterprise” interests will vastly out do the union ones.
Either way disclosure should be made prior to an election; not after.
Melvin:
In response – I would like to make it very clear that I was not “attacking” those who reap the benefit of “Unions” (as you say), when I responded to Wayne Schulstad’s question (25 November 2010 at 12pm), where he asked: “Does anyone know or have an opinion on why Mr.Bestwick was so heavily supported by the unions?”
My thoughts on election campaign contributions, as I have said previously, are that if contributions are going to be given, that they be given on an individual basis. Each one of us pays taxes and user fees to the municipality and at election time, each eligible voter votes as an individual. In doing so, it is each individual voter, who helps to elect a municipal candidate to office. It is my belief that successful candidates are elected to represent us in our capacity as individual citizens, and not as organizations and special interest groups.
Municipal politicians have the power and authority to make decisions related to land use/zoning/construction contracts and they are also involved in employment matters related to unionized workers.
So, why would a politician want to place themselves in a position of accepting campaign contributions from any of those involved in land development and/or unions related to municipal employees, and then have to be concerned at decision-making time as to whether they are in a potential conflict of interest situation if they participate in the decision making? How can a politician, who chooses to participate in such decision-making, truly be expected to make that decision in an “unbiased” manner?
It seems clear today, that citizens are feeling more strongly than ever, that their interests are not well served by the “system” … it appears to me that more time and attention should be given to reforming the way that politics is done.
When governments cut costs it often done much differently than a private company. The private company still has to turn out the widgets (unless they can outsource to China) so it tends to pare management rather than front line workers. When government cuts back, it is actual services (and the front line workers) which are eliminated. Often a service is contracted out and then a management position is added to handle the contract. Over time governments DO tend to become more and more management top heavy. Top heavy management also makes government less effective as process becomes more elaborate and more individuals are involved in even the simplest decisions. Given the power of senior management and the weakness of municipal councils it is very difficult to focus crtical attention on management and professional positions.