throne speech fails, says public service alliance of cdn ...

Throne Speech fails the transparency test

OTTAWA, April 4 /CNW Telbec/ - The Conservatives may talk about transparency but the Speech from the Throne was far from clear on the details of the government's plans for the upcoming session of Parliament according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

"The Speech was long on rhetoric but short on specifics," says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. "PSAC members will be waiting for the real news when the government tables its Accountability Act and its first budget."

According to Turmel, "the Conservatives are promising 'real protection for whistleblowers', but we have yet to see just what that means. Real protection for our members means a guarantee of no reprisals and real penalties levied against anyone who breaks that guarantee."

The Conservatives have indicated they will rely on a dedicated and professional public service and have promised them the leadership and tools they need to excel. If this is to be more than the usual rhetoric, PSAC members will be looking to this government to improve labour relations, to consult meaningfully and extensively and to ensure that training is a priority.

"Our union wanted a clear message and a positive commitment from the Conservative government to protect public services and their delivery by federal public sector workers," says Turmel. "The Speech did not give us this assurance."

While the union has campaigned for specific changes that would improve border security and the conditions of the workers who staff our borders, the Speech provides nothing more than a vague promise of improvement.

"The Throne Speech made a number of references to helping ordinary working Canadians and their families but so far the Conservatives deserve a failing grade in this regard," says Turmel.

"We need more than government 'encouragement' to create new child care spaces. Our members and all working parents will be looking to the upcoming budget in hopes the Conservatives will provide multi-year funding past March 31, 2007 as the only tangible way to create a national system of universal, high quality and accessible child care."

Reducing the GST also does little for working Canadians. According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Canadian families earning less than $40,000 will save less than $129 from the 1% reduction in the GST. Meanwhile, families with incomes over $150,000 will receive an average of over $900.

For further information: Louise Laporte, PSAC Communications, (613) 560-4287 or (613) 555-4975 (cell)