SEIU Supports a Coalition Government

• Press Release
• Source: SEIU Canada (Service Employees International Union - Canada)
• On 6:55 pm EST, Monday December 1, 2008

CONCORD, ONTARIO--(MARKET WIRE)--Dec 1, 2008 -- Canadians have lost confidence in the Progressive Conservative government. Times are tough all over the world. The United States and many or even most of the countries in the European Union have slipped into a recession. Experts have said that Canada is also in a recession now. When presented with the facts, Canadians were given the impression that the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper would adopt measures to stimulate the economy; instead they decided to punish working people.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's idea of fighting the recession is to cut the wages of the public service, suspend the right to strike for civil servants and to ignore the pay equity program. These proposals are not going to stimulate the economy no matter how you spin it. Meanwhile, the governments of Britain, Australia and China have already followed up on G-20 calls for investments of about 2% of national income, which would amount to $30 billion in the case of Canada. The European Union has just introduced a major package. Instead of addressing the economic situation now, the conservatives will wait until the budget is presented in late January, after Obama is inaugurated and months after the rest of world has implemented their own stimulus packages. Canada will have to play catch-up while our workers lose their buying power, their jobs and possibly their homes. Not a very rosy picture.

Service Employees International Union, along with the Canadian Labour Congress and the three major political parties (who represent a majority of Canadians) supports a coalition government. We need sensible leadership to guide us through what will be a very tumultuous time. This leadership must be steady and focused on creating jobs in the following sectors, manufacturing, timber, transit and green industry. At the same time we have to assist the big three automakers.

In short, the Conservative government has no positive plan to deal with the crisis and intends to respond to a downturn through cuts rather than needed investments in jobs and people.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.

Sharleen Stewart, Canadian International Vice President

SEIU Canada

     Contacts:
     SEIU Canada
     Pat Chastang
     National Media Representative, Media Relations
     (905) 695-1203 ext. 227 or (416) 709-0501
     Website: http://www.seiu.ca