Federal budget should invest in families and communities
BCGEU
Feb 8, 2008

The federal budget is expected to come out at the end of February and the BCGEU believes Canada should invest in a caring and greener future.

A budget should reflect the values of Canadians. It should invest in the future of our families and communities. It should make economic sense. That's why the BCGEU has encouraged the federal government to invest in health care, child care, seniors care, and pharmacare. That's why the government should also support climate change action initiatives and promote a greening of the economy.

These kinds of investments are in line with Canadian values. They would build a more caring, positive, and responsible society. These investments would address immediate concerns - such as the long waitlists, service gaps, and the shortages of qualified workers in health care and child care. Effective investment in areas like home support and seniors care can actually save costs elsewhere in the health system. Investing in child care pays off in real economic terms through healthy child development and increased labour participation of parents. Greening our economy is one of the more realistic ways for Canada to stay competitive in a global economy. In any event, the cost of inaction on climate change would far surpass the cost of action.

However, Stephen Harper and the Conservatives are likely to bring forward a different kind of budget… You can tell the federal government to not play politics with Liberal leader Stephan Dion, and instead focus on your priorities. The Ministry of Finance is has an online survey seeking input from Canadians about their federal budget priorities until February 11th.

Anyone can participate right now by following the following link: http://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/consult/prebud08_e.html

Here's how the BCGEU responded to the federal government online budget survey:

Government Priority: The Government should implement broad-based policies in Budget 2008 (and beyond) that will help all sectors of the economy to succeed.

BCGEU Response: A quality, accessible, universal and public child care program is a broad based policy that would have many economic benefits - it would increase labour participation of mothers and fathers, it would benefits kids in a variety of ways long-term, and would provide jobs for child care providers.

Government Priority: The Government should focus on developing policies in Budget 2008 (and beyond) to assist specific industries facing special challenges.

BCGEU Response: There is a recruitment and retention crisis for qualified child care workers, leading to waitlists that are too long and parent fees that are too high. Putting more federal dollars into a child care system would help. In general, however, investment in social services infrastructure lays the groundwork to stimulate industrial investment….

Government Priority: The Government should focus its resources in Budget 2008 (and beyond) by redirecting them from other areas.

BCGEU Response: With household net worth and corporate profits at near record highs, with large federal budget surpluses projected, we should be able to invest in our priorities wisely and responsibly, without having to engage in cuts to other priorities.

Government Priority: The Government should ensure in Budget 2008 (and beyond) that the Canadian economy remains internationally competitive, continues to attract investment and creates high value-added jobs.

BCGEU Response: Green jobs are the jobs of the future. A comprehensive green strategy that covers investment, jobs, productivity and competitiveness is the key to a stronger economy.

Government Priority: The Government should take steps in Budget 2008 (and beyond) to ensure that Canada keeps its best and brightest, attracts highly skilled immigrants, encourages as many people as possible to enter the workforce and rewards Canadians for their hard work, while respecting the Government's fiscal goals.

BCGEU Response: A priority labour market issue is foreign temporary workers. These programs do not work if they undermine wages in Canada, or if they undermine the dignity of foreign workers. We need a twin strategy of increased training locally, and realistic opportunities to become citizens for the foreign workers we welcome into Canada.

Other Priorities
BCGEU Response: Our budget must deliberately address inequality by reducing poverty, the income gap, and homelessness. Worker's rights can be enhanced through improved employment insurance, training, a living wage, and a national child care program. Protecting our public health care system remains a definitive Canadian priority.