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Eighty-one per cent of respondents disagree with government cuts contained in the budget.
St. John's (16 May 2013) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) has released its finding from a poll conducted across the province on issues surrounding the recent provincial budget. The results show overwhelming concern and disapproval with the Dunderdale government's decision-making process and cuts to public services.
Respondents overwhelmingly opposed to budget
The polls finding indicate that respondents overwhelmingly showed little support for the budget with 71 per cent saying they oppose or strongly oppose it. Twenty per cent, representing 1 in 5 residents of this province, said they were strongly opposed to the budget.
Only two per cent said they strongly support the budget.
Poor consultation prior to budget
When Harris/Decima asked if the government conducted proper study and consultation prior to the decisions announced in the most recent budget, the respondents were clear again.
Eighty-four per cent said that the government did not conduct proper consultation and study prior to making the decisions contained in the budget.
Government should review cuts
People were also asked if they thought that the government should review all of the cuts announced in the budget? The vast majority of the respondents polled, 81 per cent overall, said that the government should review the cuts announced in the budget.
In addition, 79 per cent of respondents who had seen or heard about proposed staff cuts showed some level of opposition to the cuts contained in the budget.
Forty-one per cent of respondents said that they strongly opposed the cuts, while only three per cent overall said that they strongly supported the cuts in the budget.
Cuts have impact on public services
When asked if the cuts would have an impact on the delivery of public services in the province, 84 per cent said it would have an impact and of these people, 55 per cent, representing over half of the people in this province overall, said that it would have a major impact on the public services.
The poll consists of 503 randomly selected residents of Newfoundland and Labrador via telephone. The poll is accurate to plus or minus 4.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE