CHAP. VIII] THE CIVIL SERVICE 347
clearly been stirred in no ordinary manner by the news of
the report of the Commission and the preaching of the cam-
paign of purity in the public service by Mr. Borden, leader
of the Opposition, in 1907 and 1908 in the country. The
new Act, which was passed with the concurrence of the Oppo-
sition, provides for a permanent Civil Service Commission
which, at the desire of the Opposition, was made in tenure
of office on an equal footing with the Auditor-General. This
(Commission is to hold examinations and decide the fitness
of candidates for the posts for which they are recommended
by them. They are also to give certificates for increases of
salary and for promotions and improvement of status.
Moreover, instead of the system of nomination from a
list of passed candidates there is to be appointment
by merit in the examinations. The Act applies only to
the inside or Ottawa service, but the outside service may
be brought under its provisions by Order in Council. There
is no provision in the Act for pensions, though some
salaries are increased and a new classification of posts is
provided for.
That the Act terminates any possibility of political in-
fluence is impossible to say. It is true that it prohibits
the attempt to influence the members of the Commission,
and that it forbids Civil servants to take part in politics,
a course rendered advisable by reason of the numbers
of exceptions to the rule with resulting dismissals, as in
Ontario in 1907! But the extent to which the new
system in its full form will be applied depends on
ministers, and what ministers will do is uncertain? It is
unhappily clear that Government is expected to secure
rewards for its followers in Canada, and the temptation
to grant Civil Service posts as such rewards must be a
great one.
Arising out of the Civil Service report there was held an
! Canadian Annual Review, 1907, pp. 502, 503.
3 Sir Wilfrid Laurier personally has always insisted that after appoint
ment an official should leave politics alone, but it is a rule of perfection.
Cf, Goldwin Smith, Canada, pp. 185 scq.
