Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

This Labour Day, PSAC reaffirms its commitment to helping build a just, inclusive, secure and prosperous society for workers and their families by defending quality public services. While challenging, this is a goal that we must achieve for the good of working Canadians across the country.

The Conservatives came into power earlier this year inheriting a strong economy, with low unemployment and a hefty budget surplus. Instead of building on these gains, the Harper government shifted to full reverse by implementing its declared priorities, which are designed to help the Conservatives win a majority in the next election rather than to respond in a sustainable way to what Canadians really want and need.

By scrapping the national agreement with the provinces on early learning and child care, the Conservatives has rolled back our gains in the struggle for a universal, accessible, quality and publicly delivered child care. The government’s $100-month child care benefit is a meager replacement and will not help working families who need affordable, quality child care.

The government has also devolved to the provinces the responsibility of establishing wait-time guarantees for health care, without providing any new funding. This will force provinces to invite the private sector to solve their wait-time problems, paving the way for a two-tier health-care system in Canada.

The Harper government has further rolled back progress on the environment, Aboriginal relations and human rights by turning its back on the Kyoto and Kelowna accords and by intending to re-open Parliamentary debate on same-sex marriage. PSAC urges enhancements, not regression on these issues of importance to Canadians.

The government’s get-tough-on-crime approach, which includes mandatory minimum sentences, has the potential to raise the costs of running and maintaining the criminal justice system. In the meantime, the government is either cutting back or underfunding social services that would address the root causes of crime, such as poverty, discrimination, unemployment and lack of quality education.

The government’s Accountability bill falls short on providing effective whistle-blower protection to public sector workers who are in a good position to report wrong-doing. This bill also does not call for transparency and accountability when it comes to the government’s dealings with the private sector, whether through contracting out, P3s or privatization of public services.

Finally, the Harper government introduced tax cuts in the last budget, including fast-tracking corporate tax cuts. Financing this loss in revenue, amounting to billions, will inevitably mean more cutbacks to social services and government programs. The long-term effect will be the deterioration of quality public services and more privatization.

Labour Day is a time to remember the struggles of workers for a fair and prosperous society. PSAC marks this day by celebrating the work of union members, in delivering quality public services to Canadians. PSAC strongly believes that social services, including quality child and health care, environmental protection and justice are best delivered by those who do their jobs out of genuine concern for the collective welfare of Canadians and not by those who are motivated by profit.