Teamsters Canada Rail Conference

Laval, January 29, 2009 – Teamsters Canada believes the budget presented by the federal government includes several beneficial elements that could help kick-start the economy.

Investments in infrastructure, transportation, and several other industries where workers are represented by the Teamsters Union could have a positive impact on Canadian families.

“Elected officials will, however, need to ensure that the billions injected will create real jobs,” cautions Robert Bouvier, president of Teamsters Canada. “Increasing Canadians’ debt is a risky long-term solution, but will be worthwhile if the government succeeds in creating real jobs out of the billions invested.”

The "improvements" to employment insurance are entirely inadequate

The Teamsters Union believes that the "improvements" to the employment insurance program are entirely inadequate. For the tens of thousands of workers who have lost (or will lose) their jobs, eligibility criteria must be meaningfully relaxed and benefits substantially extended.

Canadians need their government’s assistance because many of them will experience hard times in the coming months. The federal government must be responsive to workers’ needs and act quickly and decisively to stimulate the economy. Extended employment insurance, in addition to expanded training programs, will prevent tens of thousands of Canadians from finding themselves on social welfare and possibly without income.

Financial institutions will have to be accountable

Teamsters Canada has always said that banks should be forced to lower their prime and mortgage rates to give direct and, above all, concrete assistance to Canadians. Serious regulation of the financial sector must be introduced to impose restrictions upon financial institutions, which are at the root of the current crisis. In short, Canadian workers must not pay for an economic crisis caused by the financial sector’s greed.

“It is time for the government to take a clear position in favour of its constituents, not the banks,” the unionist added. “The financial sector will have to be accountable to the government and citizens by demonstrating sound management; otherwise we will be faced with more financial crises of the same nature.”

In conclusion, Teamsters Union opinion about the budget proposed by Mr. Flaherty is not bad, but the financial institutions are getting off lightly because they will not suffer the consequences of their greed.


The Teamsters Union represents more than 125,000 workers in many trades in Canada.

Information: Stéphane Lacroix, director of communications for Teamsters Canada – 514-609-5101