Federal budget fails women, working people says PSAC
OTTAWA–The 166,000 member Public Service Alliance of Canada says the 2009 federal budget infringes on workers’ and women’s rights, threatening public services at a time when Canadians need them the most.
“This budget fails working people and threatens to undermine the public services that Canadians rely on during a financial crisis of this scale,” says John Gordon, PSAC National President. “Cutting taxes will do little to create jobs or help unemployed Canadians. Working people expected more of this budget – and we expect more of our federal government.”
According to PSAC, the following features of the budget threaten quality public services and fail working people:
The proposal to “modernize” the federal pay equity regime would remove women’s right to go to court to demand equal pay of equal value.
Proposed legislation on public sector compensation will likely roll back previously negotiated wage increases – effectively breaking collective agreements for many PSAC workers including those employed by the Canada Revenue Agency.
An infrastructure spending program that requires provinces and municipalities to contribute 73 cents for every dollar of federal funding will delay critical job creating projects that should be stimulating Canada’s economy this year, not next.
“Band-Aid” changes to the Employment Insurance program do nothing to ensure access to benefits for the 60 per cent of unemployed people in Canada who currently do not qualify for EI – the majority of whom are women.
The continued emphasis on public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects – including the proposed sell-off of federal assets – will cost the public significantly more money and prove to be much less accountable than publicly-financed ones.
Billions in tax cuts will do little to stimulate the economy and would be better invested in much-needed public services such as universal child care and pharmacare.
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For more information: Ariel Troster, PSAC Communications 613-292-8363 (cell)
06-280109
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