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How does the Manitoba government's budget meet the needs of communities? Read the Report Card.
Winnipeg (29 April 2013) – Maintaining high-quality, effective services for all Manitobans is budget priority number one for the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE).
Pre-budget submission: Services First
In general, the MGEU/NUPGE believes the 2013 budget makes significant strides to protect services in key areas like protection of children, corrections, health care and education. These are areas of real concern outlined by our members and presented in Services First, our pre-budget submission.
However, while eight departments saw budget increases, ten saw decreases. We remain concerned that government is not ensuring sufficient resources for all government services, particularly Conservation and Water Stewardship programs.
Tax changes needed
Our brief recommended that all revenue options should be on the table. While the one per cent increase to the PST is dedicated to infrastructure, including flood protection, and expires after 10 years, the union's preference is for tax changes that emphasize fairness by asking large corporations and individuals, who have done well in the economy, to contribute a bit more.
We are alarmed that federal policies to constrain national transfer programs did not move the Province to suggest a non-partisan, cooperative approach for all Manitobans to help convince Ottawa to change their stance. The MGEU/NUPGE remains ready to help where it can.
Province "on track" to eliminate 600 jobs by 2015
The budget announced no further provincial job cuts. However, the province remains committed to the elimination of 600 positions by 2015 and boasts it is “on track”. This is a harsh reminder that Manitobans will ultimately pay the price for these cuts through declining quality of services.
Official Opposition provides little positive proposals
The official Opposition also offered some proposals with many of them echoing the policies pursued by the provincial government during the 1990s. Many do not remember that era of high case loads, jail riots, home care strikes and Filmon Fridays fondly.
Considering that the opposition's plan is only designed to replace a sales tax increase, imagine how destructive their plans to balance the whole budget would be - twice as many job losses and service cuts. Cutting services in order to balance the books by a self-imposed date is irresponsible. Job losses and further reductions to services that Manitobans depend on make no sense.
Report Card
The budget evaluation, 2013 Manitoba Budget Report Card, compares the MGEU/NUPGE recommendations from Services First to the budget priorities of the Government and the official Opposition.
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