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Protesters fear privatization

By: Arielle Godbout

22/07/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 23

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 Enlarge Image

About 150 protesters gathered at city hall Tuesday evening to send Mayor Sam Katz a message about privatizing city water.

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.

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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

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23 Commentscomment icon

RE: ManiSNOWba Proud's comment:
I agree completely.It's exactly what Doer did with the Mts Centre and what he plans on doing with the new stadium.Using public money to build toys so his rich friends get richer.
TERM LIMITS for all of them.

Now with all the infrastructure stimulus funds being handed out by our Federal government (creating a greater debt and burden to the Canadian people) why would Winnipeg need to partner with any corporation to complete the upgrades? Perhaps Mr. Katz should begin by applying the $7 million of our taxpayers money he wants to waste on a water slide park in a give-away-partnership with a private corporation to the commencement of the upgrades of our municipal waste water facilities. The problem with Canadian governments these days is lack of accountability for the spending of our nation's tax resource money to maintain our public infrastructure.

"Commenters about the kid: how many of you drag your kids to church on Sundays?"

I dont have kids, maybe I will finish college first. I was never dragged to church as a child, and I will never make my (future) child hold a protest sign. Let them form their own opinions over time.

That wasnt the point of my comment, I just thought it was funny to see, he obviously doesn't hold a strong opion on the privatization of water. He probably wants a slurpee.

Any P3 scheme is a grave cause of concern to Canadians as under such a proposal the private corporation is granted the same tax free status as its federal/provincial/municipal government partners. Winnpegers will still pay the GST etc on their bills, and the corporate partner keeps it and pay none. Not much tax fairness to citizens in such a scenario.

The consultant's report clearly indicates that Mr. Katz is seeking foreign corporate partners, but the report does not set out the conditions and terms of such a partnership. Private corporations require 20% year over year annual profit growth - how will Winnipegers continue to be able to afford to pay some private company for our own water after 10 years of 20% rate hikes to line the pockets of the greedy self-proclaimed elite? Neither the consultant's report nor the two senior City staff members in charge of this scheme are able to provide any concrete information as to the ownership, organization and operation details of such a partnership. The report states "should" not "will" produce certain results.

No corporate business entity would dare to present a proposal so full of holes to its board members for consideration and a vote. Be concerned, be very concerned, because there is something very very wrong with how Mr. Katz has conducted this matter.

The Post Office, Via Rail, Crocus and everything else the government is involved with including health care are expensive failures. People prefer private couriers to the post office for reliable cheap service.

Water is too important to leave in the hands of politicians and bureaucrats.

Coca-Cola is an example of a private for profit company that makes sure anyone anywhere on Earth who wants a Coke can have one for a price they willingly pay.

Who would you trust to be in charge of water?

I know all the entire left wing will chose the government every time no matter how much of a proven failure they have been in the past, but me, I would put my stock n Coca-Cola or a similar business to ensure that there will always be water to drink.

Politicians can be bought and will ensure their friends and state favored corporations will have water. Coca-cola's only friends are those with $1 in their hands to buy their products.

There is no such a thing as a government that can deliver goods and services better than the free-market.

Just go stand in line at the Hospital and find out for yourself, or you can call the Mayo clinic like Ron Duhamel did rather than wait in the line like everybody else.

Look at the shape our roads are in. Those of you who want water under the same stewardship ought to give your heads a shake.

[Edited] Understand that this corporatization of utility will open doors int he future for possible privatization and know that some of these protestors have read the 91 page policy initiative...and they aren't convinced of its integrity.
People do not know the details fully and completely, therefore it should be put on the table and Sammy should slow down a couple of months and realize that he works for the public...we don't work for him. Educate the public and break it down...don't put an ad in the paper telling the public what is happening...ask them what they want to happen. Water is a god given right to all of us...get over yourself Katz and start looking prople in the eye!

Commenters about the kid: how many of you drag your kids to church on Sundays?

Walkerton also had a shallow town well that allowed manure from farmer's fields to be washed into it.
It also had a guy who admitted to drinking on the job.
And part of the blame was attributed to the Provincial Government's funding cuts in earlier years.
So let's be careful to not take extreme cases and suggest that they will happen here.

@TRandall
Walkerton privatized their water testing in 1996. The water death were in 2000.

Yes because government can run a business so much more efficiently than business. Government run water utilities never have problems *cough* Walkerton *cough*

Have government set and enforce policies & rates and let the business run the utility.

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