Klein and Campbell – Separated at Birth??

The west end of Canada appears to have a pair of terrible twins. Our Premier Ralph Klein and B.C.s new right wing Premier Gordon Campbell seem to be acting a lot alike these days. Both are hell bent to make life miserable for working people in their provinces.

Assaulting Working People

Klein’s decision to strip away valid clauses in teachers’ collective agreements and basically force an unfair settlement is one of the most odious anti-labour actions we have ever seen in this province, which is saying something.

The simple legal principle that a contract is a contract has been stomped on and tossed in the trash heap. In one sweep of a pen, they have trampled on the rights of teachers AND thumbed their nose at parents and children in school.

The teachers wanted the province to deal with class sizes and the deteriorating condition of our schools – something every parent would agree with. The Tories’ response was a big middle finger salute.

Klein’s actions basically parrot the acts of Campbell a few weeks ago, where he cancelled collective agreements in the public sector and single-handedly re-wrote them to his liking.

Would they cancel a contract with Imperial Oil or Jim Pattison in this way? We doubt it.

Labour’s response needs to be fast and clear. Both these anti-labour bullies need to know they can’t flaunt the principles of fair collective bargainings – and dare we remind them, the Constitution of Canada – in this manner.

Do the Math: Tax Cut = Budget Problems

The twins are also at it on the fiscal front. Both Premiers were hell bent to issue a massive tax cut, regardless of any consequences. In Alberta, just before an election, Klein brought in a flat tax scheme that amounted to over $1 billion. In B.C., Campbell’s tax cut totaled almost $2.5 billion.

Never mind that in both provinces most of the tax savings have gone to the wealthy. The point today is that both Premier’s are now whining about a budget problem. Campbell has just run up the highest deficit in B.C. history and is slashing public spending with the wild abandon of a weasel in a henhouse.

Here in Alberta, Klein claims to have no money for teachers, no money for child welfare and "fears" that Alberta may slide into a deficit.

Well, boys, time to do some math. Tax cuts equal budget problems. You have no one to blame but yourself. So stop making us pay the price.