Federal budget a missed opportunity

 

The union representing most federal government workers in Canada says that the federal budget is a missed opportunity for the economy and services.

 

"We called on the government to recongize that austerity has hurt Canadians and the economy and that it's time to reverse cuts and invest in and restore federal government services," said PSAC national president Robyn Benson.

 

PSAC is concerned that initiatives announced around online access to services may mean further cuts to frontline services similar to the cuts at Veterans Affairs, Immigration Canada and Service Canada.

 

While the government is committed to new initiatives aimed at curbing tax evasion and fraud, there's no commitment to replace the workers who've been handed surplus notices at the Canadian Revenue Agency, said Benson. This year's budget will likely further reduce CRA's workforce, including special investigators, which doesn't fit with a commitment to catching tax evaders.

 

Instead of reinvesting in federal government services, the government has committed $1.5 billion over five years to P3 Canada, and could be considering privatizing the delivery of some Canadian social programs, a possibility Benson said she found troubling.

 

"We've called on the government to abandon its pursuit of P3s because they are costly and unaccountable," she said. "We are especially alarmed that the government is considering privatizing services currently offered publicly, such as those for youth at risk, persons with disabilities and the homeless. No one should make a profit on the people who need these services."

 

The government committed to $617 million in savings by 2018 through technologies and administrative efficiencies.

 

"What does that mean?" said Benson. "More cuts to programs and services? More job losses? It isn't clear and Canadians need more information."

 

View the The PSAC video, We are all affected.