Weathering
the Storm:
Why the public sector is key to Ontario's economic recovery
The current recession did not start in Ontario,
but it is hitting us hard.
Job losses in manufacturing, mining, forestry, transportation, and construction
have slashed incomes. Families are hurting. Demand for goods and services is down; so are tax revenues. This is putting pressure
on government budgets, public services, and the people – all
Ontarians – who depend on them.
Some pundits say that now is no time for public spending. With tax revenues
falling, they say government should cut spending, cut wages, and cut public services.
This approach would be counterproductive in the extreme. The public sector
is vital to our well-being. It provides public services we need, and public sector jobs mean economic stability for families
and communities.
OPSEU believes the public sector is key to Ontario’s
economic recovery. The points on the following pages should be foundation stones of government strategy in the 2009-10 budget
and beyond.
1:
As demand for private goods and services slumps, demand for public services spikes.
2: The more
we support local demand for goods and services, the faster the recovery will be.
3: Public sector spending supports the economic well-being of Ontario
families and communities.
4: The public sector must take the lead in planning for economic success.
5: Ontario needs a deficit recovery plan that
distributes the cost of the recovery fairly.
