FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 20, 2000

When greed is the motive…

TORONTO – Charges against the chair of a privately run health clinic show what happens when greed is the motive behind basic public services, said OPSEU President Leah Casselman.

Ron Koval, chair and co-founder of the King’s Health Centre, and his wife are wanted under a Canada-wide warrant and face charges of fraud involving at least $12 million.

Casselman said this development shows very clearly the dangers of opening up important public services to the profit motive. "In a private enterprise, whether it’s a hospital, a jail or a university, people go into it to make money – lots of money. In public services, people go into it because they want to build a better community," she said.

The King’s Health Centre in downtown Toronto has been the symbol of the intrusion of private health care in Ontario.

"This bolsters my already strong conviction that there is no room for private profit operators in the provision of important public services for Ontario citizens. As soon as greed becomes the primary motivating force, rather than service, the community loses."

She called on the Ontario government to pull back from establishing private universities and to end its flirtation with private jails. "It’s just not the way to go, and here’s yet another reason why," she said.

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For further information:

Katie FitzRandolph (OPSEU Communications) (416) 448-7440; home (416) 967-5964; cell (416)561-5651; e-mail: kfitzrandolph@opseu.org

Leah Casselman (OPSEU President) (416) 443-8888 Ext. 300