The Public Services: an important driver of Canada’s Economy
25 septembre 2019
Prejudicial attitudes towards the contribution of government employees persist in Canada. One myth is that the salaries of public employees are unproductive expenditures that hinder economic growth. This idea is based on a view of the economy which posits that only the private sector creates wealth, and that the government then benefits from a portion of the wealth generated to finance its activities. In this view, the work done within hospitals, schools, universities, national parks, or government agencies is not seen as having any economic value and does not affect the growth of the GDP, while the same work in private organizations is believed to create wealth. Wealth is, then, associated not with the work accomplished or its value, but rather by the sector to which it belongs.
