The Translation Bureau Move – It’s NOT going to happen
February 13, 2006
The new President of the Treasury Board, John Baird, has publicly vowed to “stop federal government jobs leaking out of the city to other regions”, according to the Ottawa Citizen of February 8, 2006. This same article also states that Mr. Baird “had “huge concerns” about the Liberal practice of relocating jobs to court favour and win votes. He promised – much to the delight of city politicians and union leaders, to try to reverse the trend and preserve jobs in the region.”
Just days following his appointment to the position of President of the Treasury Board, Mr. Baird addressed an issue that has caused many federal public servants to lose sleep – the possibility of facing the relocation of their jobs from inside the National Capital Region, to other parts of the country. The Translation Bureau was among these.
In reaction to the news that this is no longer an issue, CAPE President José Aggrey, quoted in the same Citizen article, said “If Mr. Baird really has a commitment or intention to maintain the services and jobs in the national capital region, we would be very happy about it.”
During the months leading up to the election, CAPE campaigned vigorously against the suggested move, meeting with Public Works and Government Services Officials, and Translation Bureau management, with the goal of seeking a commitment to leave the Translation Bureau intact and in place. “It seems that our suspicions have been confirmed, and the fate of the Translation Bureau was toyed with simply for the purposes of political gain. We have finally received Treasury Board’s commitment that the Translation Bureau is staying in the National Capital region, and my only regret is the concern and consternation that these political maneuverings cost our members at the Bureau,” said Mr. Aggrey.
February 13, 2006
The new President of the Treasury Board, John Baird, has publicly vowed to “stop federal government jobs leaking out of the city to other regions”, according to the Ottawa Citizen of February 8, 2006. This same article also states that Mr. Baird “had “huge concerns” about the Liberal practice of relocating jobs to court favour and win votes. He promised – much to the delight of city politicians and union leaders, to try to reverse the trend and preserve jobs in the region.”
Just days following his appointment to the position of President of the Treasury Board, Mr. Baird addressed an issue that has caused many federal public servants to lose sleep – the possibility of facing the relocation of their jobs from inside the National Capital Region, to other parts of the country. The Translation Bureau was among these.
In reaction to the news that this is no longer an issue, CAPE President José Aggrey, quoted in the same Citizen article, said “If Mr. Baird really has a commitment or intention to maintain the services and jobs in the national capital region, we would be very happy about it.”
During the months leading up to the election, CAPE campaigned vigorously against the suggested move, meeting with Public Works and Government Services Officials, and Translation Bureau management, with the goal of seeking a commitment to leave the Translation Bureau intact and in place. “It seems that our suspicions have been confirmed, and the fate of the Translation Bureau was toyed with simply for the purposes of political gain. We have finally received Treasury Board’s commitment that the Translation Bureau is staying in the National Capital region, and my only regret is the concern and consternation that these political maneuverings cost our members at the Bureau,” said Mr. Aggrey.