Federal Budget Watch Organized For Five Ontario Centres

Union warns of overt and hidden cuts

TORONTO, March 26, 2012 /CNW/ - Hundreds of public services workers and their allies will gather in Toronto, London, Kingston, Sudbury and Thunder Bay, Ontario at 3:30 p.m., Thurs., March 29, to watch as federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unveils the 2012-13 fiscal budget to the House of Commons.

Hosted by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Ontario (PSAC), Budget Watch events will evaluate the impact of the anticipated cuts on the public and on the workers who deliver public services. The events will also enable workers from various departments to engage with each other, as they sort through the implications for themselves and their communities.

"We anticipate the worst - both overt and hidden cuts" states PSAC Ontario Regional Executive Vice-President Sharon DeSousa. "We are in the grips of a federal government with a pay-as-you-go mentality that is devoted to cutting social, economic, environmental, cultural and life-saving services just at a time when we need public services the most. We fully understand the ideology we are up against."

The Harper government's threats to slash billions of dollars from public services triggered PSAC's high-profile national campaign that challenges the entire premise of federal cuts as an absurd choice. The union and its 180,000 workers are promoting a "Third Choice," one that includes a strong economy AND a healthy public system.

Events will be held in the following centres. All are open to the media.

Toronto - 90 Eglinton Ave. E., Suite 608, Joan-Ann Gravesande

London - Tolpuddle Co-op, Common Room, 380 Adelaide St. North, Todd Woytiuk

Kingston - 1471 John Counter Blvd, Suite 412, MaryAnne Laurico

Sudbury - USW Hall, 66 Brady St., Debbie St-Germain

Thunder Bay - Ste. 109 - 1205 Amber Drive, Judith Monteith-Farrell

Lino Vieira, Political Communications Officer,
Cell-416-577-0238