'How many more cuts before we hurt Manitobans?': Unions, activists protest provincial budget

Hundreds of people hoisted signs and posed in front of a "Welcome to Costa Rica" background at The Forks Saturday, protestingprovincial funding cuts to community services.

Labour unions, non-profits and activists gathered for Communities Not Cuts, a rally rescheduled for Saturday after being snowed out two weeks ago. They held signs saying "less is not more" and "stop service cuts," referencing the provincial government's plans to restructureemergency room services, allowgreater tuition increases, and to lookat more public-private partnerships to build infrastructure.

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Laurissa Smerchanski-Simssaid she came to defend issues like mental health services, health care in northern communities, and affordable tuition.

"I do think that it's important for all Manitobans to be out and making sure that the issues that are important to us and to our families and our communities are defended," she said.

Alice Klumper, with CUPE Local 2938, said she thinks the creation of public-private partnership schools won't save money and will hurt students' quality of education.

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"Further cuts to education, cuts to health care ... how many more cuts before we hurt Manitobans?"

She said she's hoping Premier BrianPallisterhears their message.