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2011 Federal Budget
Federal budget fails seniors, workers and all Canadians
The 2011 federal budget does nothing to improve retirement security, hands billions to Canada’s richest corporations and calls for drastic cuts to public services.
After months of waffling, the Harper government has failed to increase the Canada Pension Plan or make any changes to ensure an adequate income for retirees. A modest increase to the Guaranteed Income Supplement will mean a few extra dollars a month to the poorest of poor seniors. But the vast majority of elderly Canadians have been left to fend for themselves.
The government is plowing forward with $4 billion in corporate tax cuts – the weakest option for creating jobs.
Meanwhile, the government announced that it would be conducting a government-wide Strategic and Operating Review that will examine $80 billion of program spending with the goal of cutting $4 billion. Instead of investing this money in quality public services for Canadians, the Conservatives will be making this gift to the richest corporations in Canada.
Government departments will be asked to present plans to cut program spending by five and 10 per cent across-the-board. A committee led by the President of the Treasury Board will make the final decisions. The budget says that the “committee will be guided by experts from outside government.” It makes no mention of workers or the unions that represent them.
PSAC demands that any review of government spending be done with full transparency and in consultation with federal public sector unions. Foolhardy cuts will undermine public services and harm Canadians.
Under the guise of managing compensation costs, the government also intends to create pattern bargaining settlements that include ending severance pay for voluntary termination across the federal public service.
“Despite the government’s stated intent, PSAC will continue to put the demands of our members forward in all of our negotiations” said John Gordon, PSAC National President. “Collective bargaining is about what the members want – members must be active in defending their demands and PSAC will support all bargaining teams in the quest for fair collective agreements that meet the needs of the membership”.