Presented by Ken Georgetti on Saturday, 26 June 2010

(Check Against Delivery)

Sisters and Brothers, friends and neighbours – let’s send a message to the G20 leaders – this is what democracy looks like!

On behalf of the 3.2 million workers who are members of the Canadian Labour Congress – I thank all of you for not being intimidated by the heavy security and being here today to be heard!

The CLC is proud to join with all the organizations sponsoring this rally – because like them – we truly believe it should be People First – and that We Deserve Better!

Why? Because the G8 and G20 summits show that world leaders are out of touch with the people.

How else can you explain our federal Conservative government spending $1 billion on security so a handful of politicians could attend a few days of meetings?

That’s just plain nuts.

And they supposedly work for us! Not the other way around.

Here’s how crazy this is – these leaders spend $1 billion on personal security for themselves while around the world billions of ordinary people have no economic security!

And now Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants to make the people who are already suffering the most – pay even more!

Harper wrote to all G20 leaders to tell them their countries should cut deficits in half by 2013 – that can only mean dramatically slashing needed public services during a recession.

The G20’s priorities should be about cutting unemployment – not cutting the services that help those without a job.

And the G20 leaders should be listening to ordinary people who are in need.

They should not be listening to the corporate CEOs and bankers who pushed the entire world into financial crisis because of their irresponsible greed!

Need not greed – put People First – We Deserve Better!