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Loss of public services and good jobs spark protests in Nova Scotia.
Halifax (14 April 2015) — The budget announcement on April 9 was bad news for Nova Scotia. The Liberal government continued its attack on public services and jobs with the elimination of the Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism.
Nova Scotia's government cutting public services and good jobs on the backs of communities
The government cut the number of Land Registry offices from 18 to 5, and it is cutting court services in 7 rural locations across the province. It also has plans to privatize many public services.
Even before the budget was released, there were devastating cuts the provincial government had made to provincial park and visitor information centre staff. This included the loss of 58 seasonal positions in 7 parks across the province, along with the closure of 2 Visitor Information Centres in Pictou and Digby. Their plan is to replace park staff with machines. They also cut 11 positions in child welfare services in Barrington and Guysborough.
The affected parks are:
- Laurie and Porters Lake provincial parks, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Islands Provincial Park, Shelburne County
- Smileys Provincial Park, Windsor
- Boylston Provincial Park, Guysborough County
- Salsman Provincial Park, Country Harbour
- Whycocomagh Provincial Park, Whycocomagh
Public rally to voice opposition to park closures and other public service cuts
People in the community of Whycocomagh have organized this rally to protest the cuts to parks and VICs at the Canso Causeway, and have opened it up to all members who have been affected by government cuts to public services and jobs. Members of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) are encouraged all members to attend this rally.
If bad weather is in the forecast, please check the union website and the NSGEU Facebook site to ensure the event is going ahead as planned.
For more information and for campaign information about how you can help raise your voice against cuts and privatization of public services in Nova Scotia, please visit: www.whatwillyoulose.ca.
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