Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

OTTAWA – The Harper government, having finally figured out that being seen to be “green” could translate into votes, is in the process of sacrificing other vital Environment Canada programs in a misguided attempt to focus almost exclusively on climate change.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Union of Environment Workers (PSAC/UEW) takes strong exception to Environment Minister John Baird’s claims that no programs have been cut and that spending is just being prioritized for climate change initiatives.

“Program budgets that are being slashed by 50 to 100 percent are cuts,” says UEW National President Bill Pynn, “regardless of what the government may claim.”

“The government’s decision to cut programs not related to climate change demonstrates their lack of a comprehensive plan for sustaining and protecting our environment and their abysmal lack of understanding of the important work Environment Canada performs,” says Pynn. “It is also one more move by the Harper government to reduce if not eliminate the federal government’s responsibility to provide necessary public services at the national level.”

Protecting Canada’s environment is about more than just climate change. Cuts at the Canadian Wildlife Service will virtually eliminate the ability to observe changes in ecosystems, while cuts to the Migratory Bird Program will significantly hinder the monitoring the health of bird populations. The program that protects nationally significant habitats for wildlife and birds simply no longer has a budget.

According to Pynn, Canadians have a right to know why these cuts are being made and what will be their impact. To date there has been no consultation or transparency involved in the decision-making process that has resulted in these budget cuts.

“Sources are being quoted as saying that the department has over-spent its budget,” says Pynn. “In fact, Environment Canada is seriously underfunded. It doesn’t make sense to expect the department to operate with a budget that is inadequate to provide the total package of environmental protections that the public has a right to expect from its federal government.”

Ironically, the government is prepared to spend $60 thousand to address the plummeting morale of workers at the Canadian Wildlife Service at the same time as the program has lost 80% of its budget. “Talk about skewed priorities,” says Pynn. “Our members just want the resources to do their jobs.”

While Baird describes the government as a “climate change champion” in a departmental e-mail, the Conservatives’ conversion from climate change denier is more about rehabilitating their image with voters than with any long-term, comprehensive commitment to protecting our environment, says Pynn.

The union is calling on the government to restore funding to Environment Canada programs and to develop a comprehensive environmental plan that includes but is not restricted to climate change initiatives.