NUPGE calls on members to support coalition government

Ottawa (1 Dec. 2008) ... The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is supporting a Canada-wide campaign to back a coalition that could defeat the minority Harper government.

NUPGE has joined a number of groups, including the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), to rally support across the country this week for a Liberal and NDP coalition after the Harper Conservatives failed to provide the much-needed stimulus to kick-start a weakening economy.

-Mr. Harpers ideological and partisan games have caught up with him and he must be defeated by an NDP-Liberal coalition," says James Clancy, NUPGE's national president. -He can no longer be trusted to act in Canada's interests instead of his own and he must make way for someone who will."

"Instead of taking real action to address Canada's economic crisis in last weeks economic statement, the Harper government focused on ideological cuts to public services, a ban on the right to strike for public employees and the cancellation of public financing for political parties," Clancy said Monday.

-In tough times Canadians need an economic stimulus package from their government not an attack on their labour rights and the public services they need to rely on," he added.

"Last Friday, Mr. Harper resorted to procedural tactics to delay a non-confidence vote until Monday, Dec. 8. You would think he would use this week to rethink his negligent and incompetent economic statement. Instead, it seems he will attempt to demonize the opposition parties in the eyes of Canadians.

-We must ensure that Mr. Harpers campaign does not succeed. NUPGE is asking for your help. In the October election two-thirds of Canadian voters voted for opposition parties. If you were one of them, now is the time to make your voice heard," he said.

"We encourage you to contact your Member of Parliament and tell them you support a coalition government. You can send a letter to your MP online by visiting this website:

● I support a coalition government.

"Also, you could write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Phone a radio call-in program. Reach out on-line with Facebook or your favourite blogs. Get in touch with your friends and ask them to do the same," Clancy urged.

"Let your fellow Canadians know that you have lost confidence in the Harper government. The stakes are too high for anything else."

For more information, visit www.nupge.ca