Ford government aiming to slash size of public service through voluntary departures

The Ontario government is aiming to cutthe size of public service in the provincethrough voluntary departures, CBCNews has learned.

In amemo obtained by CBC, which was sent to 60,000 public sector workers Wednesdayafternoon, the head of the Ontario Public Service, Steve Orsini, said cabinet has approved an extension toa voluntary early retirement program offered to workers from several unions since 2013,and a new voluntary exit program.

The voluntary exit program is a new offer to the approximately 8,000 managers who were not previously entitled to the severance package that has beenbeen offered to unionized employees since 2012.

"As part of the government's comprehensive plan to address its fiscal challenges, the government is exploring measures to manage its compensation costs in a way that ensures vital services to citizens are not compromised while avoiding involuntary job losses,"Orsinisaid in the memo.

"To help streamline the size of the Ontario Public Service (OPS), the current focus is on leveraging available programs that will allow employees to exit the organization on a voluntary basis."

The offers apply directly to people who work for provincial government departments.

The Ford government previously put public service under a hiring freezeas part of a series of measures meant to limit spending.