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TORONTO - “There is nothing in this new McGuinty budget gives us any comfort,” says Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario Secretary-treasurer Brian O’Keefe.

The Liberal government continues to build the province’s infrastructures on P3s – private-public partnerships – rather than public ownership and operation of public services.”

Except for municipalities, there are virtually no new announcements for public services.”

They have extra money in 05/06 and are putting it forward as their new spending in 06/07 but in reality they are putting half of it in this trust fund for subway expansion with no timelines or blueprints for its spending. They could have used the money this year to improve public services,” O’Keefe said.

All the new money for hospitals will go to 11 previously announced P3 hospitals, there are no new announcements for education, or energy.”

Basically there is nothing for the workers of the province but there are further promises to private sector investors and developers.”

At the end of it all, Ontarians can’t expect anything until just before the next provincial election – and then not much.”

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For further information, contact:

Wendy Forbes, CUPE Communications, 416 292-3999 ext. 278

Brian O’Keefe, Secretary-treasurer CUPE Ontario, 416 579-7414