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As Canada once again celebrates National Public Service Week, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) urges Canadians to reflect on how public services provide all of us with a shot at the good life.
Ottawa (15 June 2015) — Canadians enjoy a high standard of living. Past generations have created a society that is the envy of much of the world, and they did it by building quality public services. Health care, of course, but much more as well. From the quality of our air and water to the education of the youth to the care of our elders, almost every aspect of our lives are touched and made better by a public service.
Public services give Canadians a shot at the good life
“Quality public services are about giving every Canadian a shot at the good life,” says NUPGE National President James Clancy. “They make sure everybody is safe and healthy and educated so that they can feel good about their lives and the contributions they can make to their communities.
“Really, quality public services are about fairness itself!”
An attack on fairness
Unfortunately, decades of cuts have hurt our schools, infrastructure, social services, and health care. Too many governments and corporate spokespeople have accepted the austerity agenda. They tell us that our public services are too costly. These same voices also clamour for more tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.
“But Canadians have always said that they want a society that provides fairness and opportunity for all,” says Clancy. “National Public Service Week is meant to celebrate our federal public services, but now is a time for us defend and expand all of our public services. It is time for us to defend the legacy of past generations and ensure the future of the next.”
Recognized for 23 years
National Public Service Week (NPSW) was created in 1992, following the passage of the National Public Service Week: Serving Canadians Better Act. Its objective is “to recognize the value of the services rendered by federal public service employees, [and to] acknowledge the contribution of federal public service employees to the federal administration.”
NPSW was designed to promote pride in and recognition of the Public Service of Canada by providing internal recognition, and by raising Canadians' awareness of the excellence of the public service.
As per the Act, throughout Canada, and in each and every year, the third week of the month of June is now known as “National Public Service Week” with the period ending the third Saturday of the month and beginning the previous Sunday. In 2015, NPSW will take place from June 14 to 20, 2015.
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NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 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