The Liberal Leader pledges his support for the public service, but stays prudent on budget matters
 The meeting was an initiative of the Conseil régional d’action politique de l’Outaouais and the Comité régional des femmes francophones de la région de la capitale national (CRFF-RCN). It was attended by members of CRAPO, the CRFF-RCN , the Ottawa Area Council (OAC) and the Ottawa Regional Women’s Committee.
In addition to the Liberal Leader, the following MP's were also present: Marcel Proulx, Hull-Aylmer, Mauril Bélanger, Ottawa-Vanier and David McGuinty, Ottawa-South.
The meeting was held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 in Mr. Ignatieff’s office.
Public Service Pension Plan
What is your position and what will you do if the federal budget to be presented next week calls for an attack on the public servants’ pension fund?
Michael Ignatieff responded that he is  quite aware of the importance of the Public Service. This having been said, he added that, in spite of the fact the Liberals had left behind a surplus of $12 billion, the reality is that Canada is now contending with a deficit of $56 billion. He claimed that an attempt must not be made to re-establish the Canadian economy on the backs of public service workers and that there are areas where more can be done and where savings can be achieved.
The Liberal Leader pledged to carefully study the budget that would be presented and do his best to protect public servants by adding that, in his view, if there are no public servants, there are no public services.
Women's rights and the long gun registry
The Conservatives scaled back funding for the women’s movement: What would the Liberals do to restore funding to groups that are looking after cases of specific interest to women if they are elected to form the next government? And what is your position on the firearms registry?
Michael Ignatieff stated that his party was opposed to cuts in financing for women’s groups and that he will work to restore financing for these groups. He added that he is also opposed to abolishing the term “equality”. He said he is hoping that the programs that were scrapped will be restored. He personally brought forward a private bill to restore pay equity with a proactive system that will follow the recommendations of the advisory committee report of 2004. He would table the same bill if the Liberals form the next government. According the Mr Ignatieff, pay equity is a human right.
On the long gun registry, he said that the Liberals “will be voting against the abolition of the registry, because we want it to be maintained in its entirety.”
Sub-contracting and budget cuts
 The elimination of the deficit has been addressed. The Liberals were asked if they are ready to commit to ensuring attrition, public service cuts and contracting-out remain off the table. Using agencies is having an effect on the workplaces and the quality of the services, while contributing to the increase in costs.
Mr Ignatieff response was to say that he had heard what people said on how badly the workplaces and the services are affected by attrition, contracting-out and the use of agency workers. That being said, he reiterated the fact that we are facing a $56 billion deficit and solutions have to be found. He said he wanted to work with the PSAC to find solutions.
National childcare program
If your party was to form the next government, would you bring back the national child care program that your party had started to put in place? Would you do it immediately even if there was a deficit so that women can work and contribute to the economy?
The Liberals still believe a national childcare program is needed. Mr Ignatieff knows that Canadians want it because it is a real issue when he and the other members of his party go door to door to visit voters. He also spoke on the financial benefits of a national childcare program but he ended his response by saying that it will be important to take the time to decide how to do it because this program has to be right from the start.
The PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President, Maria Fitzpatrick, summarized the discussion and thanked Messrs. Ignatieff, Proulx, Bélanger and McGuinty for the meeting. Everyone agreed that the meeting was successful and that other such meetings should be held.
The meeting lasted about 70 minutes. Mr Ignatieff was presented with a CRAPO shirt.
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