P.E.I. government is responsible for its deficit

Since 1991, real wages for public sector workers have actually declined, says PEIUPSE.

Charlottetown (9 March 2010) - Government mismanagement is responsible for Prince Edward Island's $85 million deficit, says the P.E.I. Union of Public Sector Employees (PEIUPSE/NUPGE).

"The provincial treasurer, Wes Sheridan, continues to side step responsibility," argues union president Shelley Ward.

"He is simply capitalizing on yet another opportunity to deflect criticism away from his own government’s mismanagement of public funds by placing the blame elsewhere,” she adds.

Ward says the province has known since December 2009 that federal transfer payments for 2010-11 would remain unchanged and it is misleading for the minister to characterize "this fact" as a cut in funding.

"The province knew how much money it would be dealing with in December and should have planned appropriately," she says.

“Sheridan also continues to blame the public service on P.E.I. for the deficit. He continues to stir up resentment against the public service despite the fact that real wages for government employees have actually fallen by 1.22% since 1991 when you consider the change in wages relative to the change in the consumer price index," Ward notes.

"The province does not seem concerned about doling out millions of dollars to both big corporations and their friends. Nor do they appear to be concerned about creating a level playing field for business on P.E.I. since the same people continue to be rewarded," she adds.

"And if you ask them to examine their own conduct ... you will find little in the way of self assessment.”

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