VICTORIA: The BC division of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today responded to the news of large pay increases for deputy ministers and pointed out that a review of the entire public sector was in order if taxpayers are to receive their money's worth from government.

"A sharp deputy minister may well save taxpayers money while an incompetent one will cost taxpayers dearly," said CTF-BC director Mark Milke, "but an entire review of salaries from top to bottom is in order, both within central government ministries and in Crowns. The private sector justification and comparison for only the top end of the civil service is not enough."

"Taxpayers deserve a civil service that is competent, paid fairly in comparison to the private sector, but also smaller. It is a large activist government that costs taxpayers the most money, and it is that size-of-government question that the Liberals have yet to answer," said Milke, who recommended the incoming government thoroughly review the role and size of government.

"Does the incoming government have any plans to cut the size of government in order to provide for wage increases to nurses and deputy ministers " asked Milke. "The government also needs to make it clear to the public sector that some of their wage growth will come in form of tax relief - and that public sector demands should be scaled back accordingly."