This morning, Winnipegers rallied for public services at the “we are ALL affected” event organized by the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Attendees decorated a banner and children had their faces painted as local leaders spoke out against federal cuts to public services. 

“When you attack public sector sector workers, you attack the services we all rely on … you attack us,” MFL President Kevin Rebeck told the crowd. He called on Canadians to send Prime Minister Harper a strong message now and when the next federal election comes around.

Other speakers spoke out against federal  m cuts that are:

• weakening food safety inspections,
• eliminating sources of independent scientific research;
• preventing the federal government from doing proper environmental screening of new projects;
• causing long delays for Canadians seeking basic services from their federal government;
• leaving fewer and fewer unemployed Canadians with access to Emplyment Insurance benefits;
• hurting the economic recovery; and
• weakening workplace safety for the 1 million workers in federally regulated workplaces. 

A spokesperson for Save the Experimental Lakesdrew attention to one of the most high profile and short-sighted federal cuts, the elimination of the Experimental Lakes Area scientific research project, a project that scientists from around the world have decried.

PSAC President Robyn Benson vowed that she and her members would work hard to make sure Canadians understand the impact of the Harper government’s cuts.