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Crown corporation idea worries tourism union

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Remax Charlottetown Realty

The union representing P.E.I. Tourism Department employees is nervous about a possible move to turn the department into a Crown corporation.

The Union of Public Sector Employees represents about 400 workers in the tourism department, most of whom are seasonal. If the department becomes a Crown corporation, the union argues, those seasonal employees could lose their right to be recalled from year to year.

Earlier this week, Tourism Minister Valerie Docherty suggested creating a Crown corporation could help get the best people into the required jobs. UPSE president Shelley Ward took exception to those comments.

"It almost implies that they don't have the right staff right now and certainly puts a negative connotation to what the Public Service Commission has been trying to do in getting the best qualified people for jobs," said Ward.

Opposition tourism critic Jim Bagnall thinks moving some people out of their jobs is one of the major reasons the government is looking at making a change.

"I would feel very uncomfortable if I was an employee with provincial parks or the golf courses under this system of going to a Crown corp.," said Bagnall.

What do you think of a crown corp idea, they(cbc staff and nancy key and mr young) were debating this on cbc radio this morning, any thoughts????

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