Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Protesters fear privatization
About 150 protesters gathered at city hall Tuesday evening to send Mayor Sam Katz a message about privatizing city water. (PHIL.HOSSACK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)
Related Items
WINNIPEG — ON the eve of city council's vote on a proposed water, sewer and power utility, more than 200 people gathered at city hall Tuesday evening to protest the project.
Many claim the move is a step toward privatization -- despite the mayor's insistence that has nothing to do with the proposal.
The rally was organized by the Winnipeg Labour Election Committee, said member Darrell Rankin, who is also the Manitoba leader of the Communist Party of Canada.
The utility would assume control of water, sewer, garbage and recycling services and possibly develop green power. It would also strike waste-water deals with Winnipeg's bedroom communities.
The most contentious part of the deal is a plan to develop some sort of partnership with a private engineering firm to complete up to $1 billion worth of sewage-treatment upgrades and combined-sewer replacements.
Rankin said he and the other protesters are not convinced the new utility won't eventually lead to water privatization.
"We are still concerned that the operation of the plant will still result in higher prices and lower wages for employees," Rankin said.
Over the past week, a variety of left-leaning groups has decried the utility for a plethora of reasons, most relating to the involvement of a so-called strategic partner.
Organizations such as the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Council of Canadians and the Provincial Council of Women have issued thoughtful statements about the potential loss of control over essential city services.
But other groups -- most notably the local Communists, the Winnipeg Citizens' Coalition and the Labour Election Committee -- have issued allegations about privatization that have less to do with the proposal before council. Last week, the WCC even used an auto-dialer to phone citizens at home.
"Everybody has the right to their opinion, but I always believe there should be some responsibility to tell the truth," Mayor Sam Katz said. "These people are 100 per cent wrong and they know they're wrong."
Protesters at Tuesday night's rally said they were concerned the move would eventually lead to privatization of the city's water -- and along with it, higher prices.
"As soon as you enter into a partnership with a private company, you're taking something out of the public's hands," said University of Manitoba student Sean Buchanan. "I'm concerned about the step toward privatization of our water."
-- With files from Bartley Kives
arielle.godbout@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 22, 2009 A3
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
Poll
Most Popular
- Juror dismissed in second-degree murder trial of Mark Stobbe
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife dead
- Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?
- US teen gets life in prison for killing 9-year-old; called the murder "pretty enjoyable"
- No comfort in trade talk: Veteran Thorburn says closely knit club well worth keeping together
- Father of man charged in Mountie shootings pleads with him to come home
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- New appointees named to Manitoba Hydro board
- Spain mourns death of Catalan painter, sculptor Antoni Tapies, top contemporary art figure
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- Juror dismissed in second-degree murder trial of Mark Stobbe
- Pardon application fee to quadruple later this month despite complaints
- Our 'true champion'
- Flood reviews launched
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.