The CPP investment board has bought a stake a Brazilian private water and wastewater company that’s bidding on a public water and wastewater system being auctioned off in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
It’s outrageous that our public pension plan is using workers’ retirement funds to profit from people’s need for clean water and safe sewage treatment. These are human rights that are essential for survival. Access to water services is already fragile and unequal in Brazil. Privatization will only make the situation worse.
The affected water workers are calling on Canadians to help defend public water services. Privately owned and operated water and wastewater services have a terrible track record. Water privatization often comes with skyrocketing rates, plummeting access, declining quality and cuts in service and jobs.