British Columbia Federation of Labour

The B.C. Federation of Labour is calling on the Gordon Campbell government to deliver a Throne Speech and Budget that take meaningful steps to help the people and families who are facing hardship in the rapidly deteriorating economy.

"The Campbell government spent far too long imagining that British Columbia was somehow protected from the global economic collapse," says Federation President Jim Sinclair. "The job loss numbers for January show a very different picture. BC is losing jobs faster than any other province in the country. "

The Federation is calling on the provincial government to implement measures that:

•put money into the hands of people with low and modest incomes;

•protect the most vulnerable in our society;

•protect existing public services;

•focus infrastructure spending on projects with environmental benefits; and

•focus on human infrastructure spending in areas such as education and health care.

"The Liberal government can't go back to its old tricks of tax breaks and service cuts," Sinclair added. "They have already slashed important public services to the breaking point and economists around the world are nearly unanimous that tax cuts provide very little of the economic stimulus we need right now."

"The Campbell government can also show that it understands the pressures that workers and families are feeling by creating a new holiday in February," says Sinclair. "Our neighbours in Washington State and Alberta, as well as four other provinces, already have statutory holidays at this time of year. A February holiday in BC would be a fitting legacy for the Olympic games a year from now."

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For more information: Evan Stewart, Director of Communications (604) 220-3095.