Yesterday, Public Eye reported a number of senior public affairs staffers were being promoted from management level eight to nine - putting them in the same pay bracket as some assistant deputy ministers. Commenting on the story, an anonymous civil servant noted, "classification 'creep' has a long tradition in this provincial government" but "the real problem is the antiquated classification system and the pathetically run B.C. Government Public Service Agency."

The bureaucrat went onto to explain "I was astounded to find out (after joining the civil service) that I needed to and was encouraged to hire expensive outside consultants (on taxpayers money I might add) to deal with the dysfunctional personnel management system that pervades this government as well as the previous one."

Unfortunately, any change from the norm "would first require changes to the most senior civil servant management staff - which the premier seems unable or unwilling to do." Although Gordon Campbell was apparently willing to have a "pep rally" with his most senior civil servants at the Empress Hotel.