Denise Savoie
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CONSERVATIVE CUTS WILL HURT THE MOST VULNERABLE: SAVOIE
OTTAWA – Some of the spending cuts announced yesterday by Stephen Harper’s Conservative government threaten to hurt the most vulnerable in our society, and to undermine the arts, heritage and volunteer-based groups that help make Victoria the vibrant community that it is, said Victoria MP Denise Savoie.
“I’m very concerned and surprised that the government is going to cut $18 million from adult literacy programs,” said Savoie, who is the NDP critic for literacy. “They say they’re going to save this money through “improved targeting” of adult learning and literacy programs. I want to know - what does “improved targeting” mean?
“The bottom line is that they’re cutting spending on adult literacy - who are the people that are going to suffer as a result? I fear it’s the most vulnerable in our society - the working poor, those whose job skills are marginal, those who are struggling to find or keep work. These are people the government should be helping, not hurting through spending cuts.”
Savoie also expressed concern about the many cuts to the department of Canadian Heritage. “I know that many of our local professional arts groups receive Canadian Heritage funding. I’m sure many are now worried, as I am, about how our vibrant local arts scene will be affected by the $1.1 million cut in ‘operating and program efficiencies’ that’s been announced.”
Savoie also noted that the government has decided to end its support for the Canadian Volunteerism Initiative – a program that has provided funds to Volunteer Victoria in the past. “At a time when we rely on volunteers more than ever, it is really a wise decision to cut support for programs that help develop volunteer capacity? I don’t think so,” said Savoie.
Of course governments have an obligation to review their spending periodically and to be prudent with public dollars,” Savoie said. “Governments also have an obligation to ensure the burden of their spending cuts doesn’t fall on the most vulnerable.”