Analysis of Newfoundland and Labrador Budget 2022

creynolds Economy, Mobilization, Political Action

Things can change a lot in one year. Newfoundland and Labrador’s fiscal situation has improved significantly since May 2021. The doomsayers, who a year ago beat the drum of bankruptcy, were not very good predictors of the future. The deficit was less than half of what was predicted in the 2021-2022 budget ($826 million to $400 million). NL debt to …

Photo of Confederation Building, St. John's, NL

Newfoundland and Labrador budget missing supports for frontline workers

creynolds Economy, News Release

“This is a centralizing budget that proposes nothing concrete for the frontline workers who have carried our province through this pandemic,” says CUPE NL President Sherry Hillier. “Instead, this government will add to the existing challenges we are facing with a totally unnecessary restructuring of the whole health care system that won’t result in one extra minute of patient care.” “Why throw the entire …

CUPE NL submission to Premier’s Economic Recovery Team

creynolds Economy, Privatization

The following submission was sent to Dame Moya Marguerite Greene OC, DBE, on January 12, 2021. After the recent resignation of Newfoundland Labrador Federation of Labour (NLFL) President Mary Shortall from the Economic Recovery Team (ERT), members of CUPE Newfoundland Labrador (NL) are concerned about the substance of the report the ERT plans to submit to government. Following a year …

Fund the Future – Provincial Day of Action February 6

creynolds Post-Secondary Education

Dear Sisters and Brothers: On Wednesday, February 6, the Canadian Federation of Students- Newfoundland and Labrador (CFS- NL) will be holding a Provincial Day of Action demanding increased funding to post-secondary education in the province. RSVP for the march on Facebook.  We are a proud supporter of the “Fund the Future” campaign and the upcoming Provincial Day of Action, and …

CUPE Submission to the Newfoundland and Labrador 2018 Pre-Budget Consultation

CUPE Submission to the Newfoundland and Labrador 2018 Pre-Budget Consultation

creynolds Economy, News Release, Report

CUPE NL supports the position taken by the Common Front NL in urging government to focus on protecting existing jobs in the public and private sectors and invest to stimulate economic growth in the short term. The real crisis facing the province is not how to balance the books but how to stop rising unemployment. Yes, the deficit needs to …

Future of public libraries remains uncertain

creynolds Economy, News Release

No hope was offered to public library workers in the provincial budget announced today by Newfoundland and Labrador Finance Minister Cathy Bennett. Workers anticipated a definitive answer on what the province intends to do with the 54 libraries slated to be closed – or if they will continue to have a job. Those questions remain unanswered. CUPE has been calling …

Submission to the NL Minister of Finance Pre-Budget Consultation

creynolds Article, Economy, issues

In the Pre-Budget Discussion Guide, the Minister of Finance asks submissions to focus on aspects of the government’s economic plan outlined in The Way Forward. CUPE Newfoundland Labrador, along with the Common Front NL, has communicated strong opposition to the economic direction government is currently pursuing. CUPE has made clear in meetings with the Minister of Finance and in various briefs …

CUPE and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador representatives discuss P3 contracts for infrastructure

creynolds issues, News Release, Own Your NL, Privatization

CUPE Newfoundland Labrador President Wayne Lucas and CUPE Senior Economist Toby Sanger met with the Honourable Kathy Bennett, Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Transportation and Works, on March 28 to discuss the dangers of using private-public partnerships (P3s) to build infrastructure. CUPE firmly believes that P3s are not in the best interest of workers, our …

Private financing wrong direction for Canadian infrastructure bank

creynolds Article, Economy, issues, Own Your NL, Privatization, Report

A report written by CUPE Economist Toby Sanger warns that private financing of the proposed Canada Infrastructure Bank could double the cost of infrastructure projects, and shows how the bank can instead provide low-cost, public financing for much-needed projects. The study was published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives in advance of the federal budget, where more details of the proposed …

Five times provincial governments failed with P3 hospitals

creynolds Article, Fact Sheet, issues, Own Your NL, Privatization

A warning for taxpayers in Newfoundland and Labrador Time and time again provincial governments are forced to admit they were wrong to use public private partnerships (P3s) to construct health care facilities, costing taxpayers billions of dollars more than they would spend if those hospitals were publicly owned and constructed. Auditor Generals, researchers and journalists across Canada continue to report …