On National Public Service Week, we thank our public servants for the incredible work they do building and preserving the things we value in this country. From coast to coast to coast, public servants are there: supporting veterans, conducting safety inspections on everything from food to infrastructure, conserving parks and wildlife, protecting natural resources and providing public services to those in need.
Throughout the past years Minister Tony Clement has relentlessly attacked public workers with false accusations and misleading statistics. His latest attack has been by taking away fundamental right of federal public service employees to exercise our Charter rights by engaging in fair collective bargaining.
When Tony Clement attacks the hard work and accomplishments of our public servants, he’s doing more than attacking the employees he’s responsible for. He’s attacking the right of all Canadians to receive strong, quality public services. A strong public service is the best investment for a safe, strong and prosperous Canada.
But most of all, he’s attacking our future – the birthright of our children to grow up in a country with public services that will keep them safe and healthy and support them as they launch into productive futures of their own. He’s attacking the right of our current generation to grow old in comfort and security, with a public service to support the shifting needs of an ageing population. He’s attacking those who put their lives on the line for this country – the veterans and their families who deserve our unmitigated support. He’s attacking basic rights that are protected by the Supreme Court of Canada and the Charter of rights and freedoms.
The quality of our future will be defined by the quality of the public services available to Canadians, and the quality and strength of the public servants who are there to provide those services. That said, the quality of our future will depend on us electing a new government on October 19.
Jeannie Baldwin
Regional Executive Vice-President, PSAC Atlantic
