News release

March 23, 2004

A budget that ignores the priorities set by Canadians

OTTAWA - The budget tabled today by federal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale does not address the real priorities set by Canadians, it is only a bland accounting exercise from a government that has no clear vision on how to develop the country.

“Priorities set by Canadians are well known”, said Nycole Turmel, National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. “These priorities are health care and education. And what does this government propose? Cuts in order to finance its pet projects. There are no new investments or transfers to provinces for health care or education. Has this government not heard what the needs of the public are?”

“And besides Paul Martin, who believes that putting aside $3 billion to pay down the debt is one of the priorities for Canadians?”

If implemented, the 2004 federal budget will undermine existing public services to pay for new projects. The program review originally announced in the 2003 budget to reallocate $1 billion a year from existing programs to new spending is being increased to a minimum of $3 billion per year.

“The 2003-2004 budget is shortsighted and does little to restore the social and economic infrastructure in Canada and will undermine existing service to the Canadian public”, added Turmel. “With this budget, the Martin government had an opportunity to enhance the health, education and well-being of all Canadians. The government missed the mark in a range of areas related to service delivery.”

“PSAC members who are on the front line of service delivery have been working in understaffed departments for too long, resulting in morale that is at an all time low, and a dramatic increase in disability claims amongst federal workers that is directly related to overwork and stress. This budget’s increase in program review expenditures will only make the situation worse. Once again, our members are being asked to do more with less, and service to the public will suffer.”

While details were not immediately available, the budget claims that the 2004-2005 program review process has resulted in a reduction in every portfolio. In other words, once again it’s an across the board indiscriminate cut that will undermine the full range of services provided by the federal government.

The PSAC will comment further on the cuts after details are released by the President of the Treasury Board on March 24, 2004

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Information: Pierre Lebel, Communications PSAC – (613) 560-5482