EXCERPTS
The Manitoba Throne Speech offers little reassurance that the provincial government will support public education and child care.
“With the elimination of the education property tax, we are concerned that the government will resort to school cuts, especially under the auspices of the K-12 review,” said Abe Araya, President of CUPE Manitoba. “Where is the government going to come up with funding for our children’s education?”
The Throne Speech also introduces the government’s plans to increase private child care spaces in the province, including for capital investments in private child care facilities.
“The government should be focused on increasing public, affordable child care across Manitoba, rather than subsidizing private facilities that could end up costing families more,” said Araya. “Child care advocates have been calling for fully funded public child care in the province, and this government is going in the opposite direction.”
The government’s sweeping changes to the health care system continues to impact front-line health care support staff.
“As the government and health authorities continue to implement their restructuring of health care, support workers remain understaffed and under-valued,” said Debbie Boissonneault, President of CUPE Local 204 representing Community and Facility Support staff in the WRHA and Shared Health. “We need investments in support staff positions, as well as a commitment from the province that they will not be privatizing or contracting out any health care services.”