Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

While Stephen Harper paid lip service to the ideals of peace, order and good government, the October 16th Speech from the Throne does little to promote these ideals in concrete terms.

Announcing a legislative agenda that prominently features deregulation, broad-based tax cuts, self-imposed limits to federal spending along with inaction on the environment, poverty and the growing prosperity gap, the Harper government has served notice that it intends to degrade existing public services and severely limit the government’s ability to address emerging needs in the future.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says the government has got it wrong. The Harper Conservatives continue to fail to understand that enlightened investment in people through stable funding for programs and public services is one of the hallmarks of a progressive, modern society and the birthright of every Canadian.

In the wake of enormous budget surpluses, the government’s failure to invest in Canada and in the health and welfare of all citizens is a national embarrassment. Canadians deserve better!

The Harper government may boast about its Child Care Benefit but families know that $100 per month for childcare doesn’t even come close to getting the job done. The fact is the government has failed to deliver a single one of the 125,000 day care spaces it promised.

Empty promises about investing in our families are no substitute for the national childcare, eldercare and pharmacare programs that can give real substance to those promises.

The Speech from the Throne provided no measures to address poverty, nor to the growing prosperity and equality gap amongst Canadians. Solutions on climate change and protecting our environment are desperately required, but were not to be found in this Throne Speech.

Where previous Canadian governments have invested in peace abroad by providing humanitarian and development aid and peace-keeping, the Harper conservatives have instead chosen to rely on trade deals and wealth creation. Canada can, and must, do better!

PSAC remains committed to standing up for quality public services both as an expression of core Canadian values and as a legitimate and effective investment in the nation’s social and physical infrastructure. Investing in the health, equality and prosperity of all Canadians requires a strong public service and political commitment; a commitment that is lacking from this Speech from the Throne.