CUPE members remind parliamentarians that public services are what build Canada's strength and sovereignty

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE members from across Canada descended on Parliament Hill on Tuesday to bring a clear message to parliamentarians: public services are what build Canada's strength and sovereignty. Hundreds of CUPE members met with MPs, Senators, and parliamentary staff from all parties as part of CUPE's first annual lobby day on Parliament Hill.

CUPE is calling on federal decision-makers to invest in public services to strengthen communities and build Canada’s resilience to economic shocks caused by Donald Trump’s economic sabotage. Canada’s largest union is also drawing attention to the dangers of cutting funding for health care, child care, education, and social services in the middle of an economic crisis.

"When the federal government pulls back, it doesn’t just stop here in Ottawa," said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. "It flows downstream and lands on provincial budgets, municipalities, on school boards and hospitals, and ultimately, it lands on workers and families. Public services are not an expense line to be trimmed when times get tough. They are precisely how we weather the storm of uncertainty."

Over the course of over 70 meetings with parliamentarians, CUPE members made one thing clear: Canada will not weather the economic storm of the current presidency and beyond by abandoning supports for communities and diverting those resources to corporate tax cuts and military spending.

"Any credible 'elbows up' strategy must be rooted in our shared commitment to universal health care, affordable child care and resilient communities," said CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick. "We are here to remind our elected leaders that every public service delivered by CUPE members is a demonstration of Canada’s sovereignty in action."