Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

The mayor and senior staff in Halifax seem determined to hand over control of four new sewage treatment plants to foreign corporations with bad track records. But CUPE’s doing its best to head off this threat.

Media reports last week indicate the municipality is looking at a 40 year deal that would see control for the design, building and operation of the plants handed over to the private sector until the year 2041!

CUPE responded with a quick news conference Friday, condemning the backroom deal and challenging Halifax Mayor Walter Fitzgerald to put off any decision to privatize the Halifax Harbour Cleanup until after the next round of elections in autumn 2000.

“The mayor and council have no mandate to privatize wastewater treatment,” said National President Judy Darcy. “We challenge the mayor and members of council to run for office on a platform of privatizing the plants.”

“We already have the Rolls-Royce of water commissions with the expertise needed to run these plants,” said Dave Corbin, president of CUPE 227, who represents outside workers with the Halifax Water Commission. “Why would council turn over control to foreign companies that have such a poor track record?”