Canadians are more worried about jobs than terrorists: union

OTTAWA, March 30 /CNW Telbec/ - One of Canada's largest unions says Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon are exploiting the threat of a terrorist attack to gain political points and cover up the federal government's incompetence.

"The Harper Government is using the G8 leaders' meeting in Gatineau and the terrible tragedy in Moscow as a platform to alarm and distract Canadians," says CEP President Dave Coles.

"The reality for most Canadians is that employment security is far more important than the threat of a terrorist attack, he says, noting there have been 100,000 jobs losses in Canada's forestry sector in the last five years.

"The federal government has offered no meaningful support to the hundreds of towns and communities in desperate straits because of the crisis in Canada's forest industry.

CEP Secretary-Treasurer Gaétan Ménard adds that "there can be no security when there is poverty."

"The lack of action for forest communities from this government has created poverty. It is that form of poverty, and that witnessed in troubled parts of the world that is the root of violence," he says.

"Our troops should be back home, and our government should be focusing on economic issues and social justice."

The 150,000-member Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union represents workers in several key economic sectors, including forestry, energy, telecommunications and media.

For further information: Dave Coles at [phone] and Gaétan Ménard at [phone] ext. 265 or [phone] (cell)