VANCOUVER One day after announcing that Mondays mini-budget was not an attack on public services, the Campbell government lowered the boom on child care.
They gave $1/4 billion to their friends in business, said CUPE BC president Barry ONeill. And to pay for it, they have turned on the people that are least able to defend themselves children.
ONeill said he was not surprised that the Liberals attacked families and children. But I was surprised at how quickly they did so.
CUPE had predicted massive service cuts after the mini-budget was brought down on Monday. The expectation was that the Liberals would begin to slash peoples services in the coming February 19 budget.
Now we are being told that they will attack any time they want and without warning, ONeill said, predicting that health care and education were more vulnerable than ever.
Premier Gordon Campbell is on record saying there will be no public hearings on the cuts.
It is shockingly harsh and it will have a brutal impact on people who need child care most, ONeill said. The Liberals have revealed a ruthless side and turned back the clock.
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Contact: Barry ONeill, CUPE BC President, (604) 916-8444.