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VIEW: Thank a public sector worker, 'cause the minister who leads them won't

In case you missed it, National Public Service Week was celebrated across Canada this week. Its objective is "to recognize the value of the services rendered by federal public service employees, and to acknowledge the contribution of federal public service employees to the federal administration."

During the week, we thanked our federal public sector workers for the work they do building and preserving the things we value in this country, from our broad coastal shorelines to our densely packed urban centres; from the interior of this vast nation to the far northern communities that so starkly define its beautiful diversity.

In all these places, federal government workers are there: supporting veterans, the military and the RCMP, conducting safety inspections on everything from food to infrastructure, conserving parks and wildlife, protecting natural resources, and providing public services to those in need.

Unfortunately, these workers do all these important things not thanks to, but in spite of, the cabinet minister responsible for them.

Throughout the past year, Tony Clement, president of the Treasury Board, has attacked public sector workers with false accusations and misleading statistics. His latest attack has been on sick leave -- a basic right of workers, one that protects not only their health but also that of the public.

It's hard to take Clement's inflated sick leave statistics seriously, when they're clearly an effort to deflect attention from some truly painful numbers: for instance, a projected reduction of 67,000 jobs in Canada by 2017, a $150-billion increase in federal debt under the Conservative government, a 31 per cent increase in food bank use between 2006 and 2012, and a reduction of more than 22,000 positions in the federal public service.

A strong public service is the best investment for a safe, strong and prosperous Canada. Attacking those public servants to deflect attention from failed Conservative economic policies is not only unfair; it's a threat to our common future.

When Tony Clement attacks the hard work and accomplishments of our federal public sector workers, he's doing more than attacking the employees he's responsible for. He's attacking the right of all Canadians to receive strong, quality public services.

He's attacking our national pride, and the collective experience of generations of dedicated Canadian workers.

He's attacking the right of our current generation to grow old in comfort and security, with a public service to support the shifting needs of an aging population.

He's attacking those who put their lives on the line for this country -- the veterans and their families who deserve our unmitigated support.

And he's attacking the ability of this country to respond to rapid changes in global realities: from the world of business to the world of health, safety and security.

The quality of our future will be defined by the quality of the public services available to Canadians, and the quality and strength of the workers who are there to provide those services.

Federal public sector workers know that. The Canadian public knows that.

Why doesn't the minister?

Bob Jackson is regional vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada for BC.


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