Latest News

Brandon Sun - ONLINE EDITION

Manitobans prefer services to tax cuts: union

By: Larry Kusch

Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 at 11:49 AM | Comments: 1

Four times as many Manitobans rank protecting public services over tax cuts as their top budget priority, according to a poll released today by a large public sector union.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees Union says 47 per cent of Manitobans identified the preservation of government services as their key provincial budget concern while 11 per cent called for a tax cut. Twenty per cent said of Manitobans their key concern was that the budget stimulate the economy, while 18.6 per cent said their top priority was that the government balance its books.

The MGEU commissioned Viewpoints Research to conduct the poll. The firm interviewed 805 Manitobans between Jan. 22 and Jan. 31. The results are considered accurate within 3.2 percentage points 19 times out of 20.

Members of the MGEU executive are meeting with Finance Minister Stan Struthers this morning to demand that he protect public services even if it means it will take longer to balance the budget.

The union said the Selinger government should delay introducing new programs until adequate resources are available.

It said government should also increase taxes on corporations and top income earners to support key services.

And it urged the government to consolidate the investment arms of Manitoba’s major pension funds to strengthen financial returns.

"Manitobans have been vocal about their support for public services, and supporting services was something the current government pledged to do in past elections," said the union’s president Michelle Gawronsky. "The message we (are sending) today is this: you received a mandate from Manitobans to invest in and support the programs and services families rely on, and as 2013 budget deliberations continue this should be the priority."

Rate this
This article has not yet been rated.

We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 1 Comments

You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Posted by:1653709

February 14, 2013 at 3:20 AM

Of course this is what a union poll would say. I wonder if they would have even released it if it had said otherwise! If they ran this poll in Greece a few years back it would say they same. Ask the tax payers of Greece if a large public sector was a good idea!

Post Your Comment

The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.