Friday, May 2, 2014

Budget Reaction

Plenty of reaction to the provincial budget.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union wants the NDP to reject the budget and force an election.

President Warren Thomas says while some low-income wage earners will be helped, the budget aims to cuts jobs and wages of most public employees.

He's also objecting to the Liberal's plan to boost private financing to some public services and infrastructure projects.

Meantime, Unifor has come out in support of the Liberal budget.

It calls the budget "decent," noting that it provides some important investments in public services and infrastructure.

The union is hoping the NDP give its support.

The Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario says it while welcomes plans to expand the scope of nurses and other health care professional, the extra $11-billion for capital improvements and the pay increase to personal support workers in the home and community section, the budget fails to address the funding constraints hospital and other health facilities are now under.

Students feel they've been left out of the Ontario budget.

Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario says it sees nothing to improves access or affordability for the thousands of students struggling financially to attend college or university.

Chair Alastair Woods says it's clear that students don't register as a Liberal priority.