Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

National President Judy Darcy has registered CUPE’s concern that Canadians are being shut out of the social union talks, discussions that are fundamental to the future of our country.

“Ministers are meeting behind closed doors, restructuring the services that Canadians depend on without any public input or accountability,” said Darcy. “They’re talking about who will fund and control essential services like health care, education and the social safety net and we’ve no idea what deals are being made.”

Federal and provincial officials have been meeting in a series of closed-door sessions this week to discuss reform of the social union.

“We shouldn’t have to rely on leaks to the media to find out what’s happening in discussions that are every bit as important as Charlottetown or Meech Lake,” said Darcy.

“It’s not just the process that concerns us. We know that some provinces want to reduce the federal role in health so they can privatize parts of the health care system. And we know that some want to thwart new programs such as home care that are urgently needed.”

“We’re calling on the Prime Minister to make public the proposal his government tabled so that Canadians can debate what’s at stake and tell our elected governments what we think,” Darcy concluded.