Fort Smith, N.W.T., union workers, students plan march to protest cuts

The Union of Northern Workers is organizing a march Saturday in Fort Smith, N.W.T., to protest proposed cuts in the new draft territorial budget.

The union released a statement on Thursday expressing its dismay over potential government job cuts.

"Our members are scared," wrote Gayla Thunstrom, the union's firstvice-president, in the statement.

"They want to live and contribute meaningfully in the North, and they are being treated like they are disposable."

• Aurora College's teacher, social worker programs targeted by budget cuts

Students and teachers from Aurora College are also expected to join the march.The government wants to cut funding to Aurora College by $1.9 million, and part of that is the winding down of programs to develop locally-educated teachers and social workers.

The Bachelor of Education and the Social Work diploma programsare no longer accepting new students. The current first-year students will be the last class to graduate.

The march is set to begin at the post office at 1 p.m.and proceed downtown.