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Tuesday, February 17, 2026

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Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | Latest Paper
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  • Defence Investment Agency
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  • Defence Investment Agency
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The PBO’s take on public service bloat and staffing cuts

While the size of the public service is beginning to shrink after more than a decade of growth, the forecasted cuts still leaves the number of full time staff well above pre-pandemic levels, a new analysis shows.

A new report from Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux reports the number of full-time public servants has ballooned from 335,000 in In 2006-07 to 445,000 in 2024-25. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
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BY RIDDHI KACHHELA
July 17, 2025
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Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr says he is 'politically accountable' to the prime minister as the political head of new Defence Investment Agency. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Defence Investment Agency needs to do more than reshuffle the staff deck to succeed, say observers

NewsBY IREM KOCA
  • Defence Investment Agency CEO Doug Guzman says the 85 full-time staff have been transferred from other federal departments. But bringing people with the same mentality about procurement won't drive change, says former MP John McKay.

Defence Investment Agency needs to do more than reshuffle the staff deck to succeed, say observers

NewsBY IREM KOCA
  • Defence Investment Agency CEO Doug Guzman says the 85 full-time staff have been transferred from other federal departments. But bringing people with the same mentality about procurement won't drive change, says former MP John McKay.

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