Budget response: pleased with increased public investments, remainsvigilant to prevent cuts to essential public services

The New Brunswick Federation of Labour was pleased to see increased investments to essential public services. The tone of the budget, though, shows that we must remain vigilant to prevent cuts to services and programs.

“Increased investments in health care, hiring more teaching assistants in public schools, improving the wages of personal support workers and renewing municipal infrastructure are all initiatives that will positively impact the lives of New Brunswick workers,” says Chris Watson, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL). “The NBFL also welcomes the introduction of pay transparency legislation for the private sector as first step in phasing in pay equity in the province.”

Other items announced in the budget speech are problematic. The budget proposes cutting Part I of the public service by 12% over the next 3 years. This represents more than 1,400 jobs. The budget also proposes both closing or privatizing heritage sites and reviewing the future of schools with less than 100 students enrolled.

New Brunswick’s economic position is strong. The net debt to GDP ratio is lower here than in most Canadian provinces. The economic returns of investing in child care, education and health care, far outweigh the economic returns of tax cuts.

“If government proceeds with cutting the public sector, we can expect longer wait times, higher stress on remaining public servants and communities being asked to do more with less,” adds Watson. “The NBFL will remain vigilant and our members will work together to defend our public services.”

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The New Brunswick Federation of Labour is the largest central labour body in the province. We represent over 40,000 unionized public and private sector workers.

For information, contact

Chris Watson
President, NBFL
(506) 381-8969