CUPE says the rosier-than-expected financial picture painted in Tuesday’s Spring Economic Update means the federal government can – and should – be investing in public services and the workers who deliver them.
In particular, CUPE says while the $6 billion recruitment initiative for the trades is welcome news, it is disappointing to see the initiative leaves out care economy workers.
“Anyone waiting for surgery, a child care spot, or a long-term care bed can tell you there’s a staffing crisis in our care economy right now,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “We need to see the same level of commitment from the government in the care economy that we are seeing for the trades.”
CUPE is also raising serious concerns about the government’s plans to lower CPP contribution rates, noting it could increase long-term risk and jeopardize retirement security for Canadians relying on CPP and pension benefits. That is not the way to make life more affordable for working Canadians.
The Update also indicates no increases for the Canada Health Transfer, no allocations for pharmacare, and no new allocations for dental care beyond 2028.
“The best way to make Canada stronger in the face of our current economic threats is by investing in the services that our communities rely on to thrive,” said CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick. “The government repeatedly acknowledges that programs like national child care have made life more affordable for Canadians, but they aren’t making the necessary investments for these programs to be truly accessible to the millions of families who need them.”
CUPE is also voicing concerns about the government’s proposed new “sovereign wealth fund”, which would stand up $25 billion in public funding – and potentially sell off existing public assets – to back private ventures in infrastructure, as well as natural resource extraction and agriculture.
“CUPE supports the idea of a wealth fund that works for Canadians, but this looks like another way for investors to privatize our vital public infrastructure, while funnelling more public dollars into private coffers,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock.