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The Globe and Mail Wed Feb 18 2015

When B.C. Premier Christy Clark made debt reduction an early priority of her government, it was understood the job would be all but impossible unless health-care costs - escalating at alarming and unsustainable rates - could be contained. On Tuesday, Ms. Clark's government tabled its 2015-16 budget, where the increase in the Ministry of Health was again kept under 3 per cent - not that much greater than the rate of inflation. It is the fourth consecutive budget in which the B.C. government has been able to achieve this goal, which has helped put it in a position to not only balance its books - for the third straight year - but also begin paying down overall debt.

B.C. has put itself in an enviable position. The estimated surplus for the current fiscal year ending March 31 is nearly $1-billion. The government is projecting surpluses in the next two budgets as well. The province's debt to gross domestic product ratio - the number credit rating agencies really keep an eye on - will hit 17.4 per cent this fiscal year and is forecast to decline to 16.6 per cent by 201718. This compares to a debt-toGDP ratio of 54.3 per cent for Quebec and 39 per cent for Ontario. It would appear there are no immediate threats to B.C.'s plum Triple-A credit rating.

Thu Feb 25 2016

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 25, 2016) - The provincial budget tabled today at Queen's Park looks like it was written by former TD Bank Executive Ed Clark for the benefit of Bay Street, not for the people of Ontario, says the president of Ontario's largest union. "On every major file, given the choice between benefiting Ontarians and benefiting Bay Street, the Liberals have chosen Bay Street," said CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. "It's not what Kathleen Wynne campaigned on; it's not what the people of Ontario need." This year's budget will hurt communities across the province as programs and services are cut in order to balance the budget by an arbitrary date.

"Maybe the Liberals missed the memo. Both their federal cousins and the people of Ontario clearly are less concerned about deficit than they are about investing in the economy to create the good jobs and public services we all need," said Hahn. Successive austerity budgets have left Ontario with the lowest per-capita program spending in Canada and serious cuts to front-line public services such as health care, schools, universities and social services. North Bay has seen more than 300 jobs cut from its hospital, Hamilton lost more than 70 child protection workers and the Toronto Catholic District School Board is looking at eliminating 100 educational assistants - cuts similar to those being seen in every community across the province. To make matters worse, he said, the budget continues the Liberal plan to privatize services and sell assets we all own in common. This includes the sale of 60 percent of Hydro One, which government watchdogs and economists warn will ultimately cost Ontario hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Continuing the privatization agenda flies in the face of AG's finding that P3 schemes have needlessly funnelled more than $8 billion into the pockets of private corporations.

Montreal Gazette Tue Nov 1 2016

Imagine a business providing a service so popular that demand is 30 per cent higher than anticipated. That would be good news, right? Admittedly, there might be an adjustment period as more equipment is purchased and additional staffis hired. But still, you would expect more demand to be a positive thing. Now imagine this business complaining about having too many clients. And not just complaining, but reducing the use of new equipment and firing staff. Sounds crazy? Welcome to the topsy-turvy world of public health care in Canada, where patients are a source of additional expenses for a hospital instead of being a source of revenue.

The latest instance of this madness is the Quebec government telling the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) that it is taking on too many cancer and emergency-room patients, according to a report in Monday's Gazette. In particular, ER admissions at the new superhospital that opened in April 2015 are 30 per cent higher than expected. The government is refusing to fund these "volume overruns," with the result being that the MUHC will have a $10-million shortfall for this fiscal year. The MUHC is apparently responding by mothballing some cutting-edge medical equipment, closing new operating rooms, postponing elective surgeries, and possibly cutting 750 full-time and part-time jobs.

The Telegram (St. John's) Tue May 24 2016

Socialist Action is gaining a foothold in Newfoundland Labrador and it is needed now more than ever. The provincial government has tabled an austerity budget that will have drastically regressive effects on public services, seniors, women, youth, those most vulnerable, and the provincial economy as a whole. The provincial government's budget is a stark contrast to Alberta's budget, where low commodity prices have also taken a big bite and the NDP government has taken a different course than that of the Liberal government in N.L. There is nothing in our b

udget about creating jobs, eradicating poverty, improving literacy, providing opportunities for young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, enhancing life in rural communities and for seniors, eliminating the gender wage gap, and improving mental health programs.

Apr 14, 2016

Reacting to the provincial budget, CUPE NL President Wayne Lucas says, “The budget tabled by Finance Minister Cathy Bennett cuts hundreds of jobs, makes the tax system less fair, and is a missed opportunity to boost our economy.”

The budget could have invested in measures like child care, to grow the province’s economy, says Lucas.

May 3, 2016

CUPE NL convention delegates and community members came together in Gander to fight austerity and build an economy that works for everyone.

The Gander town hall was organized by the Common Front NL, and is part of a province-wide mobilization to resist the Liberal government budget. CUPE economist Toby Sanger compared the recent provincial budget to Alberta’s budget, which was unveiled on the same day. Both provinces have been hit hard by plummeting resource revenues. And the difference in their response is stark.

Ottawa is moving toward a pure per-capita system of calculating how much each province should receive in federal health-care funding, starting in 2014. The new system means the existing equalization component in health transfers — intended to even things out among have and have-not provinces — will disappear.

the change means Alberta will receive $1.1 billion extra each year, on average

Redford added that Alberta got the short end of the stick for years and this finally evens the playing field.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

The next election is supposed to take place on Oct. 19, 2015, but some Tory insiders and opposition parties say Prime Minister Stephen Harper could decide to trigger it earlier to take advantage of momentum generated from next year’s expected balanced federal budget with billions of dollars of surplus. “If he’s got a budget and it’s balanced and he wants to sprinkle some goodies, this is a good opportunity to do it [call an election] and then go, and rather than sit there and lose all that momentum that the budget will give you,” said Keith Beardsley, former deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) who now is a partner at True North Public Affairs.  Next year’s budget is also likely to announce a number of tax breaks for Canadians, including income-splitting. 

Toronto Star Thu Aug 27 2015

Tom Mulcair has made the deficit fetish his own. The New Democratic Party leader has vowed that, no matter what happens, he will balance the federal budget if his party wins government. Even Conservative Leader Stephen Harper hasn't gone that far. He says governments may have to run deficits during recessions. Coming at a time of a wobbly world economy and falling oil prices, Mulcair's promise is almost certainly bad economics.

But for a party saddled with the (largely undeserved) reputation of wasting public money, it is probably good politics. The reason Mulcair's promise is bad economics is that deficits are sometimes necessary. In times of recession, for example, efforts to balance government budgets by raising taxes or cutting spending can make matters worse. The NDP understood this in late 2008 when, as part of an ill-fated coalition attempt, it said Ottawa should spend billions and endure at least four years of deficits in order to fight the worst economic slump since the 1930s.

The Telegram (St. John's) Thu Sep 3 2015

Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair duelled over deficits today in the wake of Statistics Canada's recession pronouncement. The three leaders offered sharp differences of opinion on the economic way forward after the agency reported on Tuesday that the economy contracted for a second straight quarter _ the technical definition of a recession. Trudeau said that both Harper and Mulcair will have to cut spending to honour their pledges of a balanced budget. "They want to cut programs and they hope in vain that the same plan that has been in place for the last 10 years will still work and will kick-start the economy," the Liberal leader said in Trois-Rivieres, Que.

Trudeau says only his plan to run deficits to 2019 and increase infrastructure spending will spur real growth in a slackening economy. "Mr. Harper doesn't understand that in order to grow the economy in the 21st century we need to invest in people and give them the tools they need to succeed," he said. "Confident, optimistic countries are always willing to invest in their own future rather than believe that cutting is somehow the path to growth and success."

Sep 15, 2015

CUPE Alberta’s pre-budget submission for the historic 2015 provincial budget, the first to be brought down by the new NDP government. In the few short months that Premier Rachel Notley and the NDP have been in power, they have already brought forward substantial and progressive legislation. We commend them for moving so quickly to enact real change that brings more fairness in Alberta’s highly regressive taxation system, increases the minimum wage and reduces user fees for public services. We applaud these and other swift changes that show the NDP government understands and values the importance of dignity in all workplaces. Still, there is much more to be done during these difficult economic times. CUPE Alberta’s position is that the government can deal with its deficit while still having room to increase investment in quality public services. Specifically, our budget recommendations include:

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Canadians want health care and infrastructure to be the top priorities in the Liberals' first federal budget this spring, according to results of a survey from Nanos Research. In a survey asking respondents to rank their top two budget priorities, 43 per cent of respondents said health care should be the No. 1 priority in the budget, while 28 per cent said infrastructure spending should be prioritized above all else. Eight per cent of respondents said the economy/jobs/stimulus efforts should be the top priority, while seven per cent chose public safety spending. The military and the environment were each ranked No. 1 by only four per cent of respondents, respectively.

National Post Sat Aug 20 2016

The whole idea of a doctors' union is, on its face, preposterous. Doctors are not typically to be found among society's downtrodden, lacking marketable skills or bargaining power: on the contrary, they are among the highest-paid professionals in the country, and would be with or without a medical association to negotiate on their behalf.

More to the point, doctors are not civil servants. While some are paid a salary or per-patient "capitation" fee, most are in private practice, and charge for each treatment they perform. They are small business operators, really. And yet they are entitled to bargain collectively, like coal miners or factory workers, their fees set not by competition in the marketplace but in marathon negotiations with the government.

March 22, 2016 

Today’s federal budget is a significant step in closing the gap in the quality of life between First Nations peoples and Canadians and beginning the process of reconciliation, Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde says. 

The 2016 federal budget unveiled today is an historic $8.4 billion over 5 years in investments in Indigenous issues

Feb 11, 2014

Conservatives ignore Canadians pressing economic needs with a do-nothing budget

The federal government should negotiate a new Health Accord with provinces that sets federal health transfer increases by taking into account the real health needs of Canadians and an aging population. Federal leadership to build a comprehensive public health care safety net for Canadians is the most efficient way to cover all Canadians with high-quality care at the lowest overall cost. For example, a national formulary for a core set of drugs and single-desk bulk purchasing would save Canadians more than 40% from total drug costs, almost $15 billion. The federal government should also reinstate the pre-2012 scope of coverage for refugees’ health care at a cost of $20 million per year.Federal leadership is also needed to create a national continuing care program covering both home and residential care beds. With the correct training and a proper staff complement, such a program would provide better care to seniors and save money through the significant reduction in accidents and complications from the inadequate care conditions that exists as part of a patchwork private-public system.

Budget 2014 triggers Harper’s plan to dismantle national health care By Michael McBane, The Hill Times, February 17, 2014

Federal transfer payments to provinces were first used in order to establish national standards in health care delivery across Canada. On Tuesday, February 11th, Prime Minister Harper turned this on its head by tabling a budget that will use federal transfers in order to eliminate national standards in health care.

April 23, 2015

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 23, 2015) - For the fourth consecutive year Ontario's hospitals will suffer real-dollar budget cuts according to today's Ontario Budget. This is the longest unbroken period of real-dollar public hospital cuts in Ontario's history. Already, Ontario has cut hospital beds more drastically than virtually anywhere else in Canada, or the industrialized world. Maternity units, entire wards, even entire hospitals are threatened with closure. Despite all rhetoric and false claims, these are not services that are being replaced in community care. The hospital cuts are resulting in accelerated privatization, hardship for patients and unsafe hospital overcrowding that now ranks among the worst in the developed world.

April 24, 2015

Ontario’s budget will do little to improve care levels for residents living in long term care homes, said Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS). In the months leading up to the budget, OANHSS urged the provincial government to put more money into front-line staff — primarily nurses and personal support workers — to meet the growing and increasingly complex needs of residents.

September 15, 2015

I am pleased to share with you CUPE Alberta’s pre-budget submissions for the historic 2015 provincial budget, the first to be brought down by the new NDP government.

Implementing major initiatives from the NDP platform, including a greater public investment in child care and increasing supports to the Family and Community Support Services. This is also a good time to call a commission to look at how to phase-out coal-generated electricity while investing more in green energy. CUPE specifically recommends the commission include the principle of Just Transition, to make sure workers and communities dependent on these legacy industries are treated properly.

The Globe and Mail Thu Sep 17 2015

The New Democratic Party unveiled its economic plan Wednesday, relying on corporate tax increases to pay for a suite of spending programs and promising four years of budgetary surpluses if it forms government next month. The plan, however, came under fire as critics say the party overestimates how much new revenue the corporate tax hike would actually bring in, given the potential for companies to shift profit elsewhere. There were also questions over why the NDP is relying heavily on April's budget numbers as economists have since lowered their forecasts for economic growth and federal revenue.

With the release of the NDP numbers, all three major parties have now outlined in broad strokes how they would govern if elected - and their visions are starkly different. The economic plans will be put to the test Thursday evening as the three major party leaders take part in a debate in Calgary on the economy hosted by The Globe and Mail that can be seen online or on the Cable Public Affairs Channel.