This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
“British Columbia already has the leanest provincial public sector in Canada. But this government continues to slash,” says Darryl Walker, President of the BCGEU/NUPGE.
Vancouver (21 Feb. 2012) - The provincial budget delivered today by British Columbia Finance Minister Kevin Falcon continues the dismantling of public services begun by Gordon Campbell in 2001, says the president of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).
The budget shows the Clark Liberal government wants to eliminate another 2,000 public service jobs over the next three years. Over the seven years between 2008 and 2015 public sector employment in BC will have been reduced by 18 percent.
“British Columbia already has the leanest provincial public sector in Canada. But this government continues to slash,” says Darryl Walker, President of the BCGEU/NUPGE.
As B.C.’s population continues to grow many ministries are seeing their budgets frozen, reduced or only slightly increased. Factor in inflation and many ministries are seeing substantial cuts to their funding.
“Important public services are already in crisis. Our seniors are being neglected, developmentally disabled adults and their families are being ignored, our courts and prisons are buckling under backlogs and overcrowding, and our parks system is chronically underfunded," says Walker.
"There is nothing in today’s budget to make meaningful improvements to our public services and they will continue to deteriorate.”
The BCGEU/NUPGE was shocked to learn today that the government plans to sell its Liquor Distribution warehouse and service to the private sector and is calling on the government to clarify its intentions. Today’s budget mistakenly states government has “recently announced” the planned sale although no announcement has been made.
“Today's budget is going to further undermine important public services that people rely on, eliminate thousands of good jobs, and will drive up B.C.’s unemployment rate which is already the highest in western Canada,” says Walker.
“This province needs an economic vision that provides opportunities for our young people, services for families and seniors, and that begins to close the widening income gap we see everyday. This budget does none of these things.”
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE