Infrastructure hype masks a cut in spending.
from the Canadian Union of Public Employees
Despite the federal government's proclaimed investment in infrastructure, Budget 2013 actually represents a reduction in the amount of money available for infrastructure over the next two years, says CUPE. The budget also furthers the federal government’s privatization agenda by requiring a P3 screen for all federally-funded projects over $100 million to determine eligibility for a public-private partnership.
"Budget 2013 has just repackaged existing funds and hoped we didn't notice, and have cut overall infrastructure spending for municipalities under the Building Canada Fund," said Paul Moist, CUPE national president. "This is not the kind of leadership that Canadian municipalities need."
"Moving forward on a P3 is a decision that should be made by local government," he added. "Municipalities deserve options for financing and access to funds without being forced to engage in public private partnerships and privatization of public services."
The federal budget also fails to address Canada's real economic and social problems of unemployment, poverty and slow economic and income growth, said Moist.
"What we need is a proactive and coordinated national approach to training with support for joint training programs and industry sector councils and without taking funding away from provincial training programs," he said. "There are more than five unemployed Canadians for every job vacancy. We need a federal government focused on growing the economy, raising wages and helping working families in difficult economic times."
About Canadian Union of Public Employees
With 618,000 members across Canada, CUPE represents workers in health care, education, municipalities, libraries, universities, social services, public utilities, transportation, emergency services and airlines.
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