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I’m here representing 18 thousand federal public sector workers in the province, some
of whom are in the room with us and have been following along with the budget address.
I speak for all of them when I say – with this Conservative austerity budget, the government
is making the wrong choices at the wrong time.
Canadians rely on public services, especially during tough times, and slashing public services
now will harm all of us – both this generation and future generations.
Public services reduce inequality and promote economic, social, and environmental security.
Significant cuts to departmental budgets, like the ones we’re seeing today, are certain
to harm the most vulnerable of Canadians, like veterans needing help, First Nations
communities, recent immigrants, women, and people waiting for EI compensation.
I’ll give you an example.
Cuts to EI processing centres and service agents continue even as the unemployment rate
increases – up to 7.6 percent in January. I’ve spoken to members at Service Canada
offices across the province, and they tell me they are swamped – people are waiting
more than two months, two months, for their first cheque.
In fact, after a public outcry and questions in the House of Commons, Minister Diane Finley
was recently forced to re-hire contract workers to fill in the gaps.
Another example.
Veterans from all generations are worried about cuts to services they rely on. The department
projects budget cuts of $266 million and 500 jobs before 2015.
And this budget will cut another $56 million out of that department. That worries veterans
and their families who say the quality of service has already been seriously affected.
In 2010-2011 only 50 per cent of the service standards were achieved at Veterans Affairs.
Cuts to government services will also compromise Canadians’ health and safety and the quality
our environment.
In the summer of 2008, 22 Canadians died after eating cold cuts tainted with listeria. Dozens
more were left seriously ill. Only after a public inquiry and many months of pressure,
the government promised to hire more front-line meat inspectors.
As a former meat inspector, I can tell you a cut of $56 million dollars to inspection
and other regulatory work the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will put food safety at
risk.
A $76 million cut at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will mean a reduced ability to
manage the sustainability of our fish stocks and protect our fish habitat while cuts at
Environment Canada will weaken the Department’s ability to protect and monitor the environment.
Slashing public services like the ones I’ve just mentioned and others will devastate the
social, environmental and cultural services that Canadians rely on and federal government
workers provide.
We have several background papers here today with more detailed information and I urge
you to pick one up.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada says no to the Conservative austerity budget and
demands a better way forward – a budget that protects our economy and invests in the
strong public services Canadians need.
We think a better way forward means investing in strong public services that will strengthen,
not weaken, our economy and benefit present and future generations of Canadians.
And with that I’ll turn you over to Jim Sinclair for his comments.