OTTAWA, July 14, 2015 /CNW/ -- The Public Service Alliance of Canada is today launching a nationwide campaign to remind Canadians about the impact of cuts to public services before they vote in the federal election.
At the 2015 PSAC national convention, delegates directed the union to campaign and raise public awareness about the impact of cuts to public services by the Harper Conservatives.
The Vote to Stop the Cuts campaign will include billboards, posters, radio ads and targeted Web and social media content. It focuses on cuts to key services that have affected Canadians since the Harper Conservatives came into power: support for veterans, border security, search and rescue, Employment Insurance, environmental protection and food safety.
"These and many other essential public services are threatened by reckless Harper Conservative government cuts, without regard for the safety and welfare of millions of Canadians," said Robyn Benson, National President of PSAC. "We believe it's in the public interest to raise awareness about the impact of drastic cuts to public services and encourage people to consider this before they cast their votes."
The Harper Conservatives have cut more than $14.5 billion a year from public services since 2010.
"Our members are on the front lines and see how frustrated Canadians are – waiting weeks to receive Employment Insurance cheques, or finding they can't qualify. They are trying to ensure that Canada's food is safe, that veterans are cared for and that our borders are secure," said Benson. "But government departments have been stripped bare and workers are struggling to maintain crucial services under very difficult circumstances."
Veteran Rob Cutbush describes the personal impact the cuts have had on him.
"When the Veterans Affairs office [in Thunder Bay] was open, I was able to have a face-to-face conversation with a client service agent. Now, the person I used to talk to is no longer there and the office is no longer there. It raises my anxiety."
PSAC's Vote to Stop the Cuts campaign encourages Canadians to vote in the next federal election for candidates who oppose further cuts and seek to restore vital public services.
For more information on the campaign, visit votetostopthecuts.ca
For more information or to book interviews on the campaign or with the spokespersons who can speak to the six issues (veterans, border security, search and rescue, Employment Insurance, environmental protection, food safety)
SOURCE Public Service Alliance of Canada
Video with caption: "Video: PSAC launches new awareness raising campaign: Vote to Stop the Cuts". Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_pSTbrFb5E
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