Federal government layoffs
October 22, 2012
PSAC calls on the government to start listening to Canadians and to reverse course on the cuts
“The government needs to start listening to Canadians before making decisions and to reverse course-cuts are bad for Canadian families, communities and the economy.”
- Chris Aylward's presentation to the finance committee
- PSAC brief submitted to members of the committee
That was the message delivered by Chris Aylward, National Executive Vice-President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance today. He gave several examples of Canadians from all walks of life who have spoken out against the cuts.
“The government needs to listen to economists who estimate that the last federal budget could amount to the loss of 55,000 public sector and 61,000 private sector jobs across the country.”
“The government also needs to listen to people like Mayor Claude Elliott of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, who says that losing 30 Service Canada jobs there means losing about 1.5 million dollars a year from their economy.”
“The government needs to recognize that this is not the time cut back on food safety. As of last week we had 15 confirmed cases of illness caused by food contaminated with e-coli – food that came from the XL Foods slaughterhouse in Brooks, Alberta. This follows a 56 million dollar cut to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's budget.”
“The government also needs to listen to the people who live and work along Canada's coasts. Last year we spoke to this committee about lives being put at risk by the shutdown of the St. John's and Quebec City search and rescue stations. Now they are shutting down the Kitsilano station in BC.”
With the government backing down from its decision to cut the seasons for Canada's canals and waterways, Aylward also called for a reversal on the cuts at all of Canada's national historic sites and national parks: “The communities that depend on them are saying their economies are going to suffer.”
Read Chris Aylward’s presentation before the finance committee and the full brief submitted to members of the committee.
Date Modified : 2012/10/23
