The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) wants the Prime Minister to reconsider his desire to find savings within the federal government.
Cabinet ministers have reportedly been asked to find savings of up to 15% within their departments.
The CLC’s Bea Bruske says that threatens to put services and workers on the chopping block.
Public services can always be improved, and the workers who deliver those important services know how to make them better,” says Bruske in a statement.
“However, across-the-board cuts will only harm the services Canadians rely on and the workers who provide them.”
Bruske says past rounds of austerity have undermined public services and increased government spending on external contractors.
She adds that if the cuts go ahead, it would be the worst round of austerity in 30 years.
“Slashing public services in the middle of an economic downturn will only make things worse. Adding thousands more to the growing ranks of the unemployed will further weaken our economy.”
Bruske notes nearly 10,000 jobs have already been eliminated in the past year.
