Category: Information

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 22, 2017

SASK. PARTY BUDGET PUTS CROWNS, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND JOBS AT RISK

It is clear that students, healthcare patients, Crown corporations, and workers are not the priorities for the Sask. Party government – and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) is deeply disappointed with today’s budget.

“Putting SaskTel and other Crowns on the chopping block is not in the best interest of Saskatchewan people or our economy,” said SFL president Larry Hubich, “this budget leaves the door open for the passage of Bill 40 and, as a result, the sell-off of our Crowns. It’s a bad budget, and Bill 40 must be stopped,” he added.

The Sask. Party government has also doubled-down on an ill-conceived idea to claw back 3.5 per cent from hard-working public sector workers.

“Today’s budget is a continuation of the Sask. Party government’s attacks on hard-working Saskatchewan people,” said Hubich, “we have already seen the government blame their financial mess on some of the lowest-paid public sector workers, such as janitors, and now they are expanding that attack to education workers, frontline healthcare staff, and the professionals in our public service,” he added.

The budget released today does not adequately deal with the Sask. Party’s government’s expensive privatization schemes – like the $2 billion private bypass around Regina and P3 schools – nor does it properly invest in education, workplace training initiatives, or frontline healthcare.

The SFL, as part of the Own It! initiative to protect Crowns and public services, recently held a pre-budget consultation in Saskatoon. Many ideas were submitted that would strengthen the services people rely on, protect our Crowns from Bill 40, and invest in the economy.

“From our consultations with Saskatchewan people, it has become apparent that cuts, layoffs, and sell-offs are not the direction that will grow our economy or support our communities,” said Hubich, “it is too bad that the Sask. Party government has so blatantly ignored the people of this province,” he added.

For additional information, contact:

Kent Peterson

Strategic Advisor

Saskatchewan Federation of Labour

1 (306) 570-1855
e: k.peterson@sfl.sk.ca

Greetings Brothers & Sisters,

 Own It! Post-budget Town Hall – Regina

DATE:              Monday March 27^th

TIME:               7:00pm to 8:30 pm

WHERE:           Artesian (2627 13^th Avenue, Regina)

How will the provincial government’s new budget impact our Crowns and public services, and what can we do about it?

Everyone is invited to our public town hall meeting to discuss how the provincial government’s budget will impact Crowns and public services for Saskatchewan people, and what we can do to fight back against cuts and privatization.

Join panel moderator Aina Kagis and hear a budget debrief, as well as presentations on: public services, healthcare, education, and our Crowns.

FACEBOOK LINK: https://www.facebook.com/events/1895123204033875/

In solidarity,

Joie Warnock

Western Director

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