Parliament Hill, with its iconic Peace Tower, is the picture-postcard embodiment of Canadian government. But to see where the country is actually run, you must venture to places much less majestic, such as Place du Portage, a hulking grey mass just across the Ottawa River in Gatineau.
Nothing like its regal counterpart, Place du Portage’s four concrete buildings contain a maze of drab offices that house thousands of public servants in several federal departments. But this is where government unfolds. And it was here that, this week, a series of meetings began that may send ripples through the bureaucracy for years to come.
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At some point, someone needs to finally stand up and say “The massive spending programs of government are no longer affordable. We could never be everything for everyone and it’s time we stopped trying. Canadians, you have to stop looking at government programs as being “free” and start taking care of yourselves. Let the cuts begin!”