OSHAWA, Ont. Sid Ryan, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario Division, will join members of the Concerned Citizens Coalition at a rally at 5 p.m. today prior to the public meeting on a new downtown arena.
This proposed public private partnership (P3) for a sports and entertainment complex will mean a trip to the cleaners for Oshawa residents and taxpayers, Ryan said. He has raised concerns about the project, including:
- P3s are more expensive than traditional public procurement and financing.
- Council and the community lose control of the quality and quantity of service offered at the facility when it is privately run.
- The private operator is not accountable to council and the community for the services offered and the prices they charge.
- There are no guarantees. If it turns out to be a big loser, the city will be left holding the bag because the private operator can just walk away.
The rally begins at 5 p.m. today, Wednesday, March 2, 2005 at the Tosca Banquet Hall, 800 Champlain Avenue (at Thornton Road), Oshawa.
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For more information, please contact:
Sid Ryan, President, CUPE Ontario, 416-209-0066 (cell)
Pat Daley, CUPE Communications, 416-299-9739 ext 264; 416-616-6142 (cell)
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