(Halifax) Frontline workers at transition houses will continue to demonstrate against the Hamm governments $890,000 cuts to womens shelters and mens treatment programs.
Demonstrations are planned for tomorrow (April 17, 2002) in Sydney, New Glasgow and Amherst. They will coincide with a meeting that Community and Services Minister Peter Christie is holding to talk about the cuts.
(Assignment Editors: The Sydney demonstration will take place in front of the provincial government building on Prince Street from 12:00-1:00 p.m. The New Glasgow demonstration will begin at the Pictou County Womens Centre at 11:30 a.m. and march to Premier Hamms constituency office. The Amherst event will be a candlelight vigil starting at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall.)
CUPE Nova Scotia President Betty-Jean Sutherland says, I was simply shocked to hear Neil LeBlanc almost bragging about these cuts on budget day. He and Peter Christie should be so ashamed they are slashing these programs.
If they have any compassion whatsoever, they will take the one million dollar mistake that they found in their budget and reinstate the money they took from these vitally important shelters and programs, says Sutherland.
This government has now demonstrated just how callous and how low they can go to appease their friends in business who think a balanced budget is more important than protecting innocent children and abused women, she says.
CUPE is asking concerned citizens to show their support by contacting Premier Hamm at 1-800 267-1993, or calling Alfie MacLeod (MLA) 563-0580, Cecil Clarke (MLA) 794-4060, Jim DeWolfe (MLA) 396-1919, Brooke Taylor (MLA) 639-2035, Murray Scott (MLA) 597-1998 or Ernie Fage (MLA) at 667-2332.
For information:
Betty-Jean Sutherland, CUPE Nova Scotia
(902) 396-5429 (h)
Charlene Bungay, Sydney
(902) 562-6786 (h)
Patty Ferdinand, Amherst
(902) 667-1344 (o)
Stephanie Skidmore, New Glasgow
(902) 755-6390 (o)