UPDATED December 3,
2008
The
PEI Federation of Labour's Press Release in Response to the Federal Economic
and Fiscal Update.
Charlottetown- “Workers on the Island and all through Canada are facing
layoffs, loss in pension revenues, loss on their investments, and an
uncertain
future for their families but the Harper Government is not taking it
seriously”- stated Carl Pursey, president of the PEI Federation of
Labour
"We want action on the economic front and we believe the present
Liberal-NDP Coalition could do a better job for workers at the present
time."continues Mr. Pusey
We believe some of the following are key economic measures that would
help workers in the coming months.
- A
multi year public investment program covering basic municipal
infrastructure, energy conservation, public
transit and renewable energy, twinned to Made in Canada procurement
programs;
- Investments in
job creating public services like child care;
- Improvements
to Employment Insurance benefits and increased investments in training;
- Measures
to protect workers’ pensions and improve public pensions;
- Concrete
action to save manufacturing and forestry jobs and to help hard hit industries
restructure thorough new investments.
“The
Economic and Fiscal Update released by Finance Minister Flaherty just
six days ago demonstrates that the Conservative government has no
intention of seriously dealing with the global economic crisis and the
prospect of fast rising unemployment.” says Mr. Pursey
All around the world, countries are taking urgent and exceptional
measures to stimulate their economies in a co-ordinated way to stop a
slide into a global depression.
We have a Prime Minister that instead of investing in jobs and
people, plans to cut spending by almost $2 billion next year.
That is on top of cuts to equalization payments to the provinces of
$1.8 billion next year and $5 billion the year after. The government
plans to raise more than $2 billion next year by selling off public
assets (at what will be fire sale prices). It also signaled a
move to shut down pay equity in the federal
jurisdiction.
“The Harper
Government has no positive plan to deal with the crisis and intends to
respond to a downturn through cuts rather than needed investments in
jobs and people. Instead of working to bring Canadians
together, they chose to use the excuse of a crisis to try and ram
through a partisan and mean-spirited agenda. ” stated Pursey.
The
Conservatives are unwilling to make Parliament work and refuse to
provide Canadians with the leadership they need to weather the deepening
economic crisis.
Right now, instead of talking to the oppositions parties and working
with them to find solutions to the present situation, they are acting
as bullies and brandishing the menace of another federal election or of
proroguing the House of Commons
"We are greatly encouraged that the
Opposition parties are prepared to work together around a positive
agenda and strongly support efforts to provide Canadians with an
alternative that works in the country’s best interests." concludes Mr.
Pursey
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