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National industry groups laud budget while Unifor sees ‘missed opportunity’

A pair of manufacturing associations praised the federal government’s 2014 budget, introduced Feb. 11, 2014, as good for the industry nationwide, while Canada’s largest private sector union said it came up short on jobs.

A pair of manufacturing associations praised the federal government’s 2014 budget, introduced Feb. 11, 2014, as good for the industry nationwide, while Canada’s largest private sector union said it came up short on jobs.

Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) and the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA) both rallied behind the Conservative government’s budget, pointing to a number of measures as positive steps for an industry that has face increasing pressures in recent years.

“Behind the headline news that the federal government plans to run a fiscal surplus in 2015, the budget contains a number of measures that will assist manufacturers and exporters in finding and training skilled workers, lower regulatory compliance costs and help win major new automotive investments in Canada,” CME president and CEO Jayson Myers said in a statement released following the budget.

Meanwhile, Unifor, the union born last year of a merger between the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) and the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) unions, said the Conservatives made “some good choices, but far too many bad ones” in the budget.

“The best way to address pocketbook issues is through quality employment — and our government has once again missed the opportunity,” Unifor national president Jerry Dias said.

“With more than 390,000 unemployed youth, a small loan fund and a handful of apprenticeships are not going to do the job.”

Dias also voiced his concern over the controversial Canada Jobs Grant and plans to divert funds from provincial Labour Market Agreements.