Challenging Ottawa to invest in frontline services

'Frontline public sector workers were in Ottawa recently to urge the federal government to make public services and social programs a priority in the Jan. 27 federal budget.'

Ottawa (22 Jan. 2009) - As Canada’s first ministers gathered in Ottawa last week to discuss the growing economic crisis, frontline workers in health care, community-based social services and the justice system were urging the leaders to propose a federal stimulus package that invests in public services to protect vulnerable families and help stabilize the economy. 
 
The frontline public sector workers, all members of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), met with Members of Parliament and Senators to talk about the need to make public services and social programs a priority in the next federal budget which will be tabled in the House of Commons on Jan. 27.

Members of the National Union gather in Ottawa during the First Ministers' meeting to discuss the economic crisis. Front row left to right:  Bill McLachlan (MGEU); Jim Beaton (PEIUPSE); Jeff Dvorak (OPSEU); Mike Clarke (BCGEU); Jim Gosse (NSGEU); Len Bush (NUPGE); second row (left to right): John Baert (MGEU); Shelley Yeo (PEIUPSE); Josef Rieder (HSABC); Shelley Ward (PEIUPSE); Julio Trujillo (HSABC); Patty Rout (OPSEU); Deborah Gordon (OPSEU); Mike Luff (NUPGE); Karen Hawley (NUPGE); Lorene Oikawa (BCGEU); Tracy McGillivray (MGEU).

Frontline public sector workers from across the country hold a news conference on Parliament Hill urging First Ministers to invest in public services. Left to right: Jim Gosse (NSGEU); Mike Clarke (BCGEU); Patty Rout (OPSEU); Shelley Ward (PEIUPSE).

NUPGE activists meet with members of the Senate of Canada. Left to right:  Deborah Gordon (OPSEU); Senator Sharon Carstairs (Senator for Manitoba); Tracy McGillivray (MGEU); John Baert (MGEU).

Participants hear a presentation on public opinion research conducted for NUPGE by Nik Nanos, CEO and President of Nanos Research.

Frontline workers meet with Member of Parliament, Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre).

Members of NUPGE's Manitoba Component meet with Member of Parliament Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre). Left to right:  John Baert (MGEU); Bill McLachlan (MGEU); Tracy McGillivray (MGEU) and Pat Martin.

NUPGE members discuss strategy: Shelley Yeo, Shelley Ward and Jim Beaton, all from PEIUPSE.

NUPGE members discuss strategy: Jeff Dvorak and Patty Rout, both from OPSEU.