ONTARIO

Thumbs down… to the Ontario government for creating the SuperBuild fund, which will bankroll privatization of schools, hospitals, roads and water systems.

Thumbs down… to the Ontario government for rationing and privatizing home care. Competitive bidding doesn’t lead to quality services.

Thumbs down… to the Ontario government for dismantling social assistance with the high-priced help of Andersen Consulting. The provincial auditor has condemned this project, which will pave the way for the all-out privatization of welfare.

Thumbs down…to the Ontario government for its new funding formula for subsidised child care, which shifts a huge load to municipalities. This will lead to the creation of more private child care at the expense of public, not-for-profit care.

Thumbs down… to Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman for advocating the sale of Toronto Hydro.

Thumbs down… to the Hamilton city councillors who ignored strong public pressure and voted (by only one vote) to hand control of their wastewater treatment from bankrupt Philip Utilities Management Corporation to Texas-based water privateer Azurix.

Thumbs down… to the Ontario government for its move to privatize the province's three new superjails and five boot camps.

Thumbs down… to the Ontario government for its plans to charge new user fees to access information from the provincial child support plan. The move will squeeze more than $1 million a year from single mothers and their ex-spouses.

Thumbs down… to the Ontario Hospital Association for encouraging more public private partnerships in health care. Association president David MacKinnon highlighted technology and financing as two key areas for P3s.