August, 2007

Public services are cool, even during a hot summer

PSAC members have been active this summer in all regions of the country telling Canadians how cool public services are. They’re also delivering the message about the government's plan to sell prime federal real estate to the private sector.

British Columbia

On Canada Day, PSAC members in British Columbia, distributed over 5,000 fans bearing the message Public Services are Cool, 250 temporary tattoos, and 800 leaflets amongst thousands of people at Canada Place. Members also leafleted and handed out the fans in Burnaby, Queen's Park, Port Moody, Cloverdale, Abbotsford, Surrey and Terrace.

On July 7, leaflets and fans were handed out at a BBQ hosted by NDP MP Libby Davies and on the Queen Charlotte Islands members leafleted and distributed fans at Skidegate Days from July 19 to 22. More fans appeared at the Labour of Love Festival at Grandview Park on July 14 and 15 and at the Car Free Festival in Vancouver on July 22.

Our cool PSAC fans were hot items this summer in British Columbia.

On August 14th, PSAC activists were up early in the morning for their first day of leafleting in front of one of the 2 buildings the Conservatives are planning on selling-off in Vancouver.

Members of the B.C. region are invited to visit www.publicservicesarecool.ca to sign on a petition and enter a contest to win an enviro-friendly bike.

For more details about the most recent political activities in British Columbia this summer visit www.psacbc.com

Prairies

On July 19th, PSAC members in Edmonton kicked off the Public Services Are Cool activity by distributing 2500 fans to the public who attended the Capital X Parade. The fans were a real hit with the parade goers given the hot and humid weather conditions Edmonton has been experiencing.

Credit: PSAC Prairie
Here are Gary Farnsworth and Penny Trischuck at the Fringe in Saskatoon. The balloons were pretty hot items for the kids and those fans were great for everyone else!

In Lethbridge, PSAC members had a float in the Coaldale Candy Day Parade and distributed fans to the public. In Manitoba, fans and flyers were distributed at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and at the Thresher Festival in Austin, west of Winnipeg.

PSAC activists plantgated and demonstrated in Calgary and Edmonton to denounce the Government’s plan to sell-off buildings in those two cities.

Members in Saskatoon are invited to visit www.psac.com/prairies/saskatoon to find out how to contact their MP and enter a contest to win a $100 in cash.

For more details about the most recent political activities in the Prairies  visit http://prairies.psac.com/

Ontario

In Toronto, 300 PSAC members attended a rally at 4900 Yonge St. to protest the government's plan to sell the building. They came out on their lunch break and participated in the barbeque and food bank drive that coincided with the rally.
Speakers at the rally included Alex Sauve Vice President, Government Services Union, Ken Boone, Alternate Regional Executive Vice President for Ontario and Peggy Nash, Member of Parliament for High Park-Parkdale.

Photo: PSAC Ontario

Members of the public who were visiting the building were quite shocked by the government's sale and lease back plan. They were encouraged to call their MPs and speak out against the government's plans. The food bank drive raised donations of non-perishable foods and $490.00 for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

In August, activists are still reaching out to the public to promote Quality Public Services. Over 1000 fans were distributed at the very well attended Taste of Danforth Street Festival.

National Capital Region

In the National Capital Region, PSAC members organized a rally in June to protest the sale of buildings belonging to the federal government and lobbied federal MPs on the need to defend quality public services. The demonstration against the sale of federal buildings attracted the attention of numerous media.

National and local media were out in force to hear PSAC National President John Gordon denouncing the sell-off of nine federal government buildings. Gordon raised serious questions about the nature of the sale and the secrecy under which it is being conducted.

PSAC president John Gordon declared that this sale is a bad deal for the Canadian people and that PSAC will continue to pressure the Government of Canada to put a halt to this sale once and for all. “Canadians will not be well served by this sale. It makes more sense economically to remain the owner and preserve and protect public property,” he added.

As for other visits to MPs, members in the NCR met with the Minister of the Environment, John Baird. Discussions dealt with environmental issues, Parks Canada and the sale of federal buildings.

For more details about the most recent political activities in the National Capital Region visit http://www.psac-ncr.com/

Québec

In Montreal, PSAC members gathered on July 12 in front of 305 René-Lévesque Blvd. West to protest the sale of that federal government-owned building.

Patty Ducharme, PSAC National Executive Vice-President, Jérôme Turcq, Regional Executive Vice-President for Quebec, Betty Bannon, the President of the Union of Taxation Employees, and Diane Bourgeois, the MP for Terrebonne-Blainville and critic for public works and government services for the Bloc Québécois, attended the demonstration.

Credit: AFPC Quebec
People who attended the festival appreciated the fans but also the chance to learn about Quality Public Services.

305 René-Lévesque Blvd. West is one of nine federal buildings that the government is planning to sell and then lease back for 25 years.

PSAC members were at the “Le grand rire de Shebrooke” event to distribute fans and engage in conversations with members of the public on the importance of Quality Public Services.

For more details about political activities in Québec this summer visit http://www.afpcquebec.com/photos/index.html.

Atlantic

Credit: PSAC Atlantic
Cool float for Cool Public Services in Charlottetown’s 45 Annual Gold Cup Parade

PSAC activists distribute fans to remind people how much federal public services play a role in their lives. They were at Lobster Festivals, sports event, Charlottetown's 45 Annual Gold Cup Parade, Natal Day Parade and they are planning on being at the Labour Day parade as well. They were also at the doors of office buildings welcoming PSAC members coming back from their well deserved holidays…

For more details on these events and others visit www.atlantic.psac.com

North

In the north, PSAC members were busy in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Simpson and Dawson City distributing leaflets and fans and collecting petition signatures. They also organised a BBQ in Whitehorse.

Actor John Dunsworth, (Mr. Lahey of the TV show Trailer Park Boys) receives information about the PSAC campaign for quality public services from PSAC North Regional Executive Vice-President, Jean-François Des Lauriers.

The union had a strong presence at the Folk on the Rocks Festival in Yellowknife where the PSAC booth attracted the attention of a number of actors, including Festival host John Dunsworth (Mr. Lahey from the TV show Trailer Park Boys).

More rallies and BBQs are planned in the North until to the end of the summer.

For more details about more recent political activities happening in the North this summer visit www.psacnorth.com.