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December 13, 2006
Union locals hold bake sales to raise funds for
MNR
NORTH BAY/HEARST/TIMMINS – Union locals in
Hearst, North Bay, and Timmins will hold bake
sales Dec. 14 to help raise money for their
employer, the Ministry of Natural Resources.
“The purpose of these events is to illustrate,
in a humourous way, just how desperate the
situation is for the MNR in northern Ontario,”
said Dave Fluri, a steward with Local 635 of the
Ontario Public Service Employees Union. “It’s
pretty sad when a ministry of the Ontario
government can’t even afford to put gas in its
vehicles.”
The events are part of the union’s “Save the MNR”
campaign to protest budget cuts to ministry
operations. Union members in the MNR are wearing
black every Thursday, signing petitions for
presentation in the Legislature, and meeting
with local MPPs.
Operating funds for the MNR are down over $25
million for 2006-07, a cut of more than five per
cent, in real terms, from 2005-06. The cuts have
reduced park staffing, curtailed fish and
wildlife enforcement, reduced public oversight
of industry, and forced many MNR offices to
close their doors to the public.
- 30
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For
local details, please contact:
Dave Fluri, OPSEU Local 635, North Bay
(705)
494-6791
Lynn Alary, OPSEU Local 638, Hearst
(705)
372-2223
Jim Finnigan, OPSEU Local 649, Timmins
(705)
235-1333
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