MACDONALD: MINISTER HAS FAILED CALL CENTRE WORKERS IN CAPE BRETON
Date: Thursday October 22, 2009

(Halifax, NS) On Wednesday during question period, Cape Breton South
Liberal MLA Manning MacDonald challenged the Minister of Economic and
Rural Development to intervene in the loss of 40 Bell Aliant call centre
jobs in Sydney.

“Is the minister planning to step in and stop the loss of these call
centre jobs?” asked MacDonald. “The relocation of jobs from Sydney
to Halifax or New Brunswick will have a disastrous effect on the economy
of Cape Breton Island and rural regions of our province.”

Percy Paris, the Minister of Economic and Rural Development, offered no
assurances that he or his government would intervene on behalf of the
call centre employees, saying individuals have the option of moving with
their jobs.

“When I raised this issue in the House of Assembly, the Minister
acknowledged he was somewhat aware of the Bell Aliant restructuring and
its impact on several Nova Scotian communities,” explained MacDonald.
“However, at the same time he admitted he wasn’t sure when he found
out about it or who had told him. That’s unacceptable.”

“A Minister of the Crown should not be finding out about significant
job losses in this province through the news media,” MacDonald said.
“He has a responsibility to be on top of situations like this one
and a duty to do everything in his power as Minister of Economic and
Rural Development to keep these jobs in Sydney.”

“This government, this minister and the premier should not be
standing by and allowing Nova Scotians to lose their jobs.”

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