The Union of Public Sector Employees is shocked the P.E.I. government is moving more than a dozen jobs from Milton, near Charlottetown, to Tignish, a two-hour drive away.

'To expect these people to be driving two hours to work is not fiscally responsible … This is just ludicrous.'— Shelley Ward, UPSE

The government is relocating the Department of Transportation's body and paint shop to a new building in Western P.E.I. as part of its rural development plan.

"These jobs are natural fits for the Tignish area," said Premier Robert Ghiz.

"We believe that it's important that all areas of the province can benefit from public jobs."

Ghiz said no one will lose a job as a result of the change. Some people who don't wish to be transferred may be able to take other positions within the public service. Some may chose to retire.

People who decide to relocate will be given a mileage allowance for one year, the same arrangement made for other employees affected by government decentralization.

UPSE president Shelley Ward said the move will be very hard on workers in the shop.

"Some of these people will be retiring, and so it's certainly pushing them out the door quicker," said Ward.

"There are some people who are very, very young. Because I do know of a couple of them that are well established, young families in their communities where they're at. And to expect these people to be driving two hours to work is not fiscally responsible, especially when you're looking at this deficit that we're having right now and wasting more of the public's money. This is just ludicrous."

Ward said if government wants to create jobs in the Tignish area it could turn some casual positions there into permanent positions.

The shop currently operates out of a leased building in Milton. A new 8,000 square foot building will go up in Tignish this fall to accommodate the move.