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TORONTO Public-private partnerships siphon money away from frontline public services and into the pockets of private corporations in deals that can last for two generations, says CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan.

Ryan will address about 400 union activists registered for courses at CUPE Ontarios annual spring school at the Sheraton Centre in downtown Toronto. He speaks at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 6 in the Grand Ballroom East.

P3 hospitals are just the tip of the iceberg as the provincial government examines how it will address infrastructure renewal, estimated to cost about $100 billion.

The previous Tory government paid for its tax cuts partly by putting off maintenance on schools, hospitals, university buildings, water systems and much more, Ryan says. These needs have to be addressed, but it shouldnt be done by forcing taxpayers to pay a premium for using someone elses money when government can borrow at a much lower cost.

While Premier Dalton McGuinty claims he doesnt want to sell public assets to the private sector, he is considering turning them over to private operators.

Handing services over to private operators is a director attack on CUPE members jobs that will drive down their wages and destroy benefits, according to Ryan.

CUPE is the provinces largest union, with about 200,000 members in health care, municipalities, school boards, universities, utilities and social services. CUPE Ontarios Rebuilding Strong Communities campaign is aimed at increasing awareness about the real costs of public-private partnerships and developing alternatives for public investment in public services.

  • Who:
    CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan

  • What:
    Speech to 400 activists at CUPE Ontario Spring School

  • When:
    9 a.m., Saturday, March 6, 2004

  • Where:
    Grand Ballroom East, Sheraton Centre
    123 Queen Street West, Toronto

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For more information, please contact:
Sid Ryan, President CUPE Ontario
416-209-0066 (cell)
Pat Daley, CUPE Communications
416-616-6142 (cell)