Source: The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada

Balanced Federal Budget Built on Dangerously Underfunded Public Programs, Says PIPSC

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 21, 2015) - The "balance" in the Harper government's new, much-heralded balanced budget has come at a huge cost to Canadians' health, safety and protection of the environment, says the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC). It also promises to come at the cost of the plan that currently protects public service employees when they are sick.

"Managers in the government are already warning about the loss of 'program integrity.' Our own science members are trying to bargain with this government to protect 'scientific integrity,'" says PIPSC President Debi Daviau. "Who would have thought that the fundamental integrity of federal government programs and services would be called into question in a country like Canada?"

"Cuts to federal science programs and services and the loss of over 7,500 jobs from science-based departments over the last three years alone mean Canadians now face a severe public science deficit," she added. "That's a deficit that must be 'rebalanced' before the full consequences of climate change, massive growth in the transportation of oil and gas, and over-reliance on industry self-regulation for food and other product safety leads to even worse human and ecological tragedies than those experienced in recent years."

"In addition, this government is forcing public servants to give up a plan that protects them when they are sick in order to make a nearly $1 billion contribution to the current government's pre-election budget surplus," said Daviau. "All this in exchange for an alternative plan that is only a figment of Treasury Board President Tony Clement's imagination. We will continue to bargain in good faith and take all possible measures to ensure that our members are covered when they face illness or injury."

"Canadians need to consider very seriously whether we can afford another 'balanced' budget like this one let alone make them law every year," she concluded. "Continuing to freeze federal government budgets guarantees more environmental crises, fewer protections for human health and safety, less consumer protection, and dwindling revenue reclaimed from off-shore tax cheats."

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada represents some 55,000 professionals across Canada's public sector.

Contact Information:

Pierre Villon
(613) 228-6310 extension 2228 (office)
(613) 794-9369 (cell)