Across-the-board budget cuts would affect every Albertan, AUPE President says
EDMONTON – Cutting 10 to 15 per cent out of ministry budgets across the board would hurt services Albertans count on every day and put the brakes on the province’s economic recovery, AUPE President Guy Smith warned before the government’s release of the 2010 budget.
“A smaller budget would put more vulnerable Albertans at risk, jeopardize public safety, compromise environmental protection, and leave health care and education to suffer,” said Smith.
“Let’s be clear. Essential services to Albertans are already cut to the bone due to an across-the-board hiring freeze, while demands for services have increased significantly. The dedicated staff that deliver these services are already at breaking point and without the staff there are no services,” he said.
The budget is to be released this afternoon, but Smith said the Finance Minister and others in the Progressive Conservative government cabinet had given clear signals that large cuts would touch every part of the 2010 budget.
“I see this as a misguided attempt to out-flank the Wildrose Alliance and shore up support with the far-right element of the Progressive Conservative caucus,” Smith stated.
“It’s about time the Government started doing what’s right for all Albertans rather than catering to right-wing special interest groups,” he added.
Smith said cutting provincial budgets doesn’t make sense when the government is projecting that it will have $13 billion left in the Sustainability Fund after paying for this year’s deficit.
“We have billions and billions of dollars in the so-called rainy day fund, we’re just starting to climb out of the recession, and the government is talking about slashing budgets,” Smith said.
“Slashing the budget will have the effect of slowing down Alberta’s economic recovery,” said Smith.
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For more information, contact:
Guy Smith, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-265-2294 (mobile telephone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (mobile telephone)
AUPE Offices can be reached by calling toll free – 1-800-232-7284.