N.W.T. union protests proposed government job cuts

The union that represents territorial civil servants in the Northwest Territories held a demonstration near a busy Yellowknife intersection Monday morning to protest the government's plan to cut 135 public jobs.

Morning commuters honked their horns at the 12 to 15 members of the Union of Northern Workers as they stood at the local fire hall on Franklin Avenue, holding up signs reading, "Tell your MLA to vote No."

The union, which is part of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, is protesting the N.W.T. government's proposal for at least 135 layoffs as part of its effort to slash $135 million across all departments in the next two budgets.

In January, Premier Floyd Roland said he wants to redirect that money towards government priority projects.

Union officials say at least 135 territorial employees have already been told that their jobs are on the line, while about 100 currently vacant positions are set to be eliminated.

But the union, which is set to release a study Tuesday showing that the proposed budget and jobs cuts are not necessary, argued that the N.W.T.'s financial position is as healthy as Alberta's.

"Not only is there no cause for cuts of $135 million to the economy, but the [government of the Northwest Territories] is in a very good position to actually invest into the economy," Jean-François Deslauriers, the Public Service Alliance of Canada's executive vice-president for the North, told CBC News on Monday.

The budget, which would include details of the proposed job cuts, is expected to be delivered at the end of this month. It has to be approved by the legislative assembly before the cuts could proceed.