Thread by @ABActivist

1)At Resistance #yeg Townhall. Told deficit caused by over reliance on resource revenue, not overspending. We spend less of our GDP on services than other provinces. Before #UCP, economy best in Canada. Alta has the lowest debt to GDP ratio in Canada.

2) Public sector wages paid less than private workers. Reality public sector workers already shared the pain, not the gain. In Alta both private & public sector workers earn more than in other provinces. #ableg #abresistance #UCP

3) Corporate tax cuts do•not•create wealth & have•not•worked anywhere in Canada. AB has revenue, not spending, problem. If we taxed at rate of next lowest tax province, we would have $11.2 billion more in revenue & there would be no need to gut services. #ableg #abresistence

4)Speaker predicting more job cuts. Saying budget based on UCP assumptions, predicting 82,000 jobs lost (public & private sector). Should economy not perform as well as budget predicts, job loss will be much worse. #ABbudget #ableg

5) Speaker saying budget will drive Alta into a ”Jason Kenney” recession. Now discussing worker’s rights. #Bill21 allows for replacement workers coming during strike. Allows govt to use ”confidential” directives to dictate to places, such as colleges, the terms of the contract.

6) Putting through 100 to 200 page bills that cannot be easily read. #ableg

7)I think this point is being made: Govt is attempting to muzzle the effectiveness of unions to speak out.

8) The room is packed. A number of people are standing. #ableg #abresistence

9) Saying there will be layoffs of frontline healthcare providers. Union leaders saying they are not talking general strike, but some workers are. #ableg #GeneralStrike

10)Unions are helping ppl organize to protest govt actions. Private sector union leader is speaking. Private unions also represent some ppl providing essential services to some vulnerable population groups. Worker wages when adjusted to inflation have stayed the same for 30 yrs.

11)In the 30 yrs prophets for business have increased. All union members in province are in same situation as public sector employees. Much applause to, “We don’t want to live in a discount province.” “Lets put humanity first!” ableg

12)My thoughts: When the hades will we hear Jason Kenney or an #UCP cabinet minister say, ”Let's put humanity first.”

Possibly in an alternative universe.

#ableg

13) Now going to questions.

14) Person speaking saying that we have the support of Indigenous and Metis people. ”We will not stand idle no more.” #ableg

15) Indigenous and Metis people will be disproportionately hurt by cuts.

ATA Edmonton rep speaking now about cuts. Next year cuts could be $70 to 90 million in Ed Public. #ableg

16) ”Teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions.” #ableg #abed