EDMONTON – Albertans are braced for a tough budget tomorrow, with families and frontline workers waiting to see how much they will suffer to pay for $4.5 billion in tax giveaways to corporations.
Guy Smith, president of the 96,000-strong Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), will be in the Rotunda at the Legislature and available for comment after the UCP government releases its first budget. AUPE members will be on the streets at information pickets in Calgary and Edmonton to fight against cuts to services.
“Since coming into power, the UCP have only talked about two things: Freezes and cuts. No matter what way you slice it, Albertans are going to hurt,” said Smith. The province’s population grew by 1.64 per cent last year – that’s more than 70,000 people, a pattern that is likely to continue in 2020. This means Alberta will have the equivalent of a small city moving here and demanding services. Combined with inflation, even if the UCP maintains current levels of funding for health care and K-12 education (as it promised), many people in need of blood work, surgeries, classroom space and more will be left out in the cold.
“Someone is going to have to pay the tab for the massive corporate hand-out – and that will be Albertans. From the courts, to health care, to education, to government services, our members are already burning out after years of being asked to do more with less. Cutbacks would add insult to injury to those who rely on services.”
Smiths adds: “As front-line staff, AUPE members work every day for Albertans. We’re going to fight just as hard on the streets to protect them and the services they need. Albertans are counting on us to fight for them. We will not let them down.”
CALGARY INFORMATION PICKET:
Where: In front of the SAIT Thomas Riley Building (1301 16 Ave. N.W.) and along 16th Avenue, Calgary.
When: 12 noon – 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24.
Media contact: Terry Inigo-Jones, AUPE communications officer: 403-831-4394.
EDMONTON INFORMATION PICKET:
Where: East Rundle Centre, 3341 118 Ave., Edmonton.
When: Thursday, Oct. 24, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Media contact: Mimi Williams, AUPE communications officer: 780-240-3562.
LEGISLATURE EDMONTON:
Where: AUPE president Guy Smith will be in the Rotunda of the Legislature after the budget is released.
When: Thursday, Oct. 24.
Media contact: Celia Shea, AUPE communications officer: 780-720-8122.
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