ST. JOHN’S – With the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly set to open after more than 14 months, CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador President Wayne Lucas is urging the premier – and all three parties – to debate CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Europe.
Says Lucas, “Leaked documents related to the ongoing Canada-European Union (EU) trade negotiations show that Canada and the provinces have failed to protect drinking water and wastewater services from trade rules which will open the door wide to privatization of these public services.
“Stephen Harper’s message to the EU is that big European water companies who see public water services as a barrier to their investment opportunities in Canada, need worry no more. For Newfoundland and Labrador, this represents ten times the threat of Gisborne Lake,” suggests Lucas.
Says Lucas, “Premier Dunderdale must understand that the people of our province hold a great deal of trust in publicly-owned, operated and delivered water and sanitation systems. Like Medicare, this is a sacred trust!”
For more information, please contact:
Wayne Lucas
CUPE NL President
(709) 727-2509 (Cell)
John McCracken
CUPE Communications Representative
(902) 455-4180