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For the second year in a row, CUPE has launched a campaign, “Hey, Premiers!” to ask Canadians to write letters to their premier about issues important to them.

CUPE National President Paul Moist recently wrote to the premiers encouraging them to invest in things that make a difference for all Canadians. Moist urged the premiers to support:

  • Quality public health care. Protect and strengthen a robust public system accessible to all Canadians.
      
  • A stronger Canada Pension Plan that provides all Canadians with much greater security and dignity for their retirement.
      
  • Public services - not a dangerous trade deal. Stop CETA, which threatens our democracy by putting corporate rights first.
      
  • Employment insurance that protects seasonal workers. The changes to EI forced through by the federal government are based on tired, disrespectful stereotypes of EI claimants.
      
  • Develop a long-term national green and public energy strategy, to ensure Canadians have fair and affordable access to a secure, reliable and environmentally sustainable energy supply.
      

Send your letter now!
  

Canada’s premiers will be meeting next week in Halifax for their annual meeting, the Council of the Federation that takes place July 25 – 27. The decisions they make and the issues they choose to focus on will affect our families and our communities.

“In the face of short-sighted policies from the federal government, CUPE hopes you will use your meetings to address issues that range from the infrastructure that holds our communities together to the supports that Canadians rely on while they are unemployed, and as they get older,” says Moist.

Moist wished the premiers well in their deliberations. “I hope your meeting in Halifax takes advantage of this opportunity to continue work on these vital issues, and that the Council sends a clear message to the federal government of their importance to your provinces and all Canadians,” wrote Moist.

According to a Council of the Federation website, the Federation was created because “they believe it is important for provinces and territories to play a leadership role in revitalizing the Canadian federation and building a more constructive and cooperative federal system.”