Turmel blasts looming Conservative budget cuts

Dropping the axe on services for families will hurt Canadians’ quality of life

GATINEAU – In a speech delivered today, the Leader of the Official Opposition, Nycole Turmel, slammed the impact of looming Conservative budget cuts on the quality of life of Canadians.

Turmel, speaking at the annual general meeting of the Gatineau chapter of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, highlighted the potential harm of the Harper government’s looming slashes to the budget.

“These cuts will mean a further slowdown of economic growth, while unemployment continues to rise. But above all, they will hurt the ability of Canadian families to obtain the services they need,” Turmel said.

As a concrete example, she pointed to long delays in the delivery of front-line services at Service Canada, which is responsible for processing pension and employment insurance claims.

The NDP leader also criticized the Conservatives’ enthusiasm for Old Age Security reform. “Retiring at an acceptable age has become impossible […] and too many seniors already live in poverty,” she said.

Turmel concluded her speech by reiterating her desire to make the Conservative budget the “fight of her life.”