Ignatieff, Layton, Duceppe: Public Sector Champions

Reports from the U.S. indicate employment is stabilizing with the addition of jobs in the government. Thousands are being hired to conduct a Census. After this contract expires will the private sector step in or is the current numbers of growth of jobs in the U.S. unsustainable? How will this affect us in Canada if unemployment in the U.S. remains above remains higher. 

In Canada we have seen concerns raised from some groups about the need to restrict the growth of government.

Since 2000 the trend has been reversed and the average number of government employees has been increasing. After a decade of steady increases an examination or review has been launched by the Conservative led government which took office in 2006.  It has been over four years and many of think this is long overdue.

The Federal Government has begun a review and has already earned some negative feedback from the opposition and media pundits. I have heard this statement repeatedly used against the CPC led Federal government. It does not believe in government, it is idealogical, it has been hollowing out the departments and role of government. They are weaking our country. Are they making this stuff up? I can't find proof of government shrinking it's payroll beyond some cosmetic changes. 

...we will conduct a comprehensive review of administrative functions and overhead costs. Our goal is to eliminate any redundant spending and find savings wherever they may exist. The review will look at external and internal service operations, business processes, and administration.

Just this week, I announced the elimination of 245 federal appointment positions across government. By streamlining these organizations, we are ensuring that resources are put to the best possible use for Canadians.

Reality vs Perception (Public Sector Employment)
 
The fourth-quarter increase was spread among all government sectors. The major contributors were educational institutions, with an increase of 29,000 employees, or 2.8%, over the fourth quarter of 2006. This growth was mainly concentrated in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.
General government employment amounted to just over 1.1 million, a gain of 2.4%, or 27,000. All three levels of general government contributed to this increase. Since 2000, however, federal and local government employment growth has outpaced that of the provincial and territorial governments.
Strong growth in the provincial administrations of Alberta and British Columbia was partly offset by a decrease in Quebec and New Brunswick.
Employment in health and social service institutions increased by 25,000, or 3.2%. Alberta accounted for over one-quarter of this growth.
Total public sector wages and salaries in the fourth quarter of 2007 were 3.3% higher than they were a year earlier. -The Daily

Population growth has been shifting for years in Canada. Democratic reform has included an additional 30 seats in parliament that mirrors a rebalancing of jobs in the private and public sector as well.

• British Columbia's population rose by 14,300, or 0.32%, to just over 4,494,200. It was the second consecutive quarter in which the province recorded the fastest population increase among the provinces.
• Ontario, the population rose by 0.12% to 13,134,500, the fastest fourth-quarter increase since 2003. Alberta's population increased 0.21% to just over 3,711,800.. - The Daily

I don't see the massive cuts, erosion in public services in education, or health as alleged by the opposition, where do they get their facts from?

Is the opposition, pundits being balanced in their criticism of this Federal government as "idealogical"  while ignoring the increase of Public Sector jobs?