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Opposition Leader Roger Grimes says that the $23 million in savings from the
recent public sector strike should be re-invested into the services that the
people of the province use on a daily basis. As referenced in Tuesday’s
Telegram, Finance Minister Loyola Sullivan stated that government would not
be using these unexpected savings to improve services in the province.
"The services of our province need to improved, not cut by this government,"
said Mr. Grimes. "Our education services, health care services, and
infrastructure have already been cut by this government in their first ten
months in office. Now is the time to take these unexpected savings and
re-invest it back into the people and services of our province. This
government should not be creating a social deficit in an effort to balance a
fiscal deficit.
"It is ironic that while the Premier is lobbying the federal government
for a national pharmacare program, he is allowing a strike to continue at
the VON on the west coast that helps many disabled and elderly people in our
province. Government could end this strike today and ensure the
uninterrupted provision of home care to hundreds of people. This option is
estimated to cost $40,000. Government should use some of the savings they
made on the backs of public sector workers in the province to rectify this
situation.
"The people of the province who are currently going without home care
would certainly welcome the resumption of their services. This money was not
budgeted and is extra money in government coffers that has been saved on the
backs of public sector workers. Government should do the right thing and
ensure that their backwards decisions do not lead to another lengthy and
unpleasant strike in the province." |