Public service unions say opinion poll shows Albertans want more spending, not less.
from the Alberta Federation of Labour
EDMONTON — Labour leaders are standing up for the majority of Albertans who do not want to see public services cut on March 7.
At a joint press conference on Monday, March 4, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Edmonton, the presidents of the province's six largest public sector unions and associations urged Alison Redford to listen to Albertans, most of whom want their public services protected.
The Alberta Federation of Labour, Alberta Teachers' Association, Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, Canadian Union of Public Employees-Alberta, Health Sciences Association of Alberta and United Nurses of Alberta have decided to join their voices together to send a clear message about the upcoming budget.
Polling, conducted by Environics from February 14-21, shows that more than 70 percent of Albertans reject the idea of cuts to public services. More than three quarters of those polled agree that there should be an increase on taxes for the wealthy and corporations.
The majority of Albertans believe we should be investing more in health care, education, and other services.
Far from thinking the government should cut public services, the majority of Albertans believe we should be investing more in health care, education, and other services. Albertans see a growing province, a booming economy, soaring corporate profits and low unemployment, and they're confused as to why health care, education, and community services still don't have the resources they need to do the job right.
Albertans were clear in their message that they support the need for some increased revenues, but that they reject the idea of a sales tax. Only 17 percent of those polled were in support of a provincial sales tax, 72 percent said they would be in favour of returning to a progressive income tax, and 77 percent were in favour of increased taxes on corporations and those who make more than $200,000 per year.
When asked about spending, respondents identified several priorities: Creating a provincial strategy for long-term care for seniors was a high priority for 70 percent of respondents, while protecting publicly-funded health care against for-profit health care was identified as a high priority by 57 percent. Nearly half of respondents said that hiring more teachers and support staff for elementary and secondary schools was a high priority.
The government is trying to justify massive cuts to health care and education by saying oil prices have dipped. Albertans aren't buying it. Albertans know a growing economy needs adequate investment in public services.
Because labour leaders were concerned about the direction that budget discussions had been going, they commissioned a poll by Environics Research Group to find out what Albertans are looking for. The poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 Albertans, is considered to have a margin of error of +/- 3.1, with a 95 percent confidence level.
About Alberta Federation of Labour
The Alberta Federation of Labour is a voluntary association of unions and employee organizations that have banded together to achieve common goals.
Since 1912, when unionized miners and tradespeople from southern Alberta first agreed to work together under the umbrella of a labour "central," the Federation has fought hard to improve conditions for working people, their families and their communities.
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