Canada is a country of enormous potential and wealth in our land, communities and people. There’s no reason why we can’t all share in growing prosperity and well-being. A set of progressive economic measures will not only strengthen the recovery in the short term, but also create the basis for enhanced economic growth and productivity over the longer term that everyone can share in.
CUPE’s well-researched submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance expresses our deep concern over austerity measures being imposed upon Canadians at the federal level. The solution to the gloomy global financial situation is not to cut down on government spending but rather to increase direct public investment and to implement measures to increase business investment in our economies.
Protecting, strengthening and defending our public health care system remain a priority for us, as does ensuring that Canadians can retire with dignity.
Our primary recommendation is that the federal government should maintain and expand public services and launch a major public investment program that would create jobs immediately, address social and environmental goals, increase long-term productivity and economic growth while also increasing and diversifying private sector investment.
