For immediate release: July 12, 2004

EDMONTON — The government’s announcement today that Alberta will be the first Canadian province to eliminate all provincial debt is more evidence that Albertans can afford the quality public services they need and expect, says the president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.

“Thanks to soaring resource revenues, our province finds itself in a very fortunate financial position,” Dan MacLennan said this morning after the announcement of the province’s debt-free status was made in Calgary.
“We know that Albertans expect their government to deliver top-quality public services in government services, health care, education and elsewhere,” he said. “The ease with which the government has been able to eliminate the provincial debt provides more evidence, if any was needed, that Alberta can afford those quality public services for all Albertans.”

In its announcement this morning, the government said the province is setting aside a special $3-billion fund to pay off the province’s remaining debt as payments come due. Based on strong revenue forecasts for 2004-2005, that means the province will now be free of debt, a government news release said.

The government statement also said it wants citizens to help design Alberta’s future policies by responding to a public consultation study.

“Naturally, as the representative for thousands of employees in the government, education and public health care sectors, we are concerned that the government recognize the desire of Albertans for strong public services,” MacLennan said. “We are confident that any public consultation process will make the wishes of the public clear.”

AUPE is currently in the midst of major negotiations on behalf of all direct employees of the provincial government and of Alberta’s nine health regions, he noted. At the same time, the union will soon be entering another series of negotiations for new agreements at educational institutions and with boards, agencies and local governments throughout the province.

Formal dates for bargaining on behalf of approximately 20,000 direct provincial employees will be announced in the next few weeks, MacLennan said.

Talks are ongoing between AUPE and health region employers to reach region-wide collective agreements on behalf of approximately 26,000 general support service and auxiliary nursing care employees.

“In every case, our members depend on predictable, secure public financing in order to be able to do their jobs properly,” he explained. “Alberta needs to put its vast material wealth to work to make a better life for its citizens, in part through the quality public services that AUPE members provide.”

MacLennan said most evidence supports the view that in areas such as education and health care, public services are both fairer and more cost-efficient than privatized approaches such as contracting-out public services and the use of public-private partnerships to finance capital projects.

“AUPE members are one of the key providers of quality public services in Alberta and we want to ensure that those services are maintained and improved,” he concluded.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-232-8392 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)