FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2001
Private roads lead to
disaster
TORONTO – The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is completely out of line
in calling for private control of Ontario roads, according to Ontario
Public Service Employees Union President Leah Casselman.
It is asking Ontario to "relinquish" control over a huge
public investment that serves the entire population of the province. In
return an "independent" – read non-accountable – authority
would take over.
"Where does that leave citizens?" asked Casselman. "It’s
our taxes that built the highway system. It’s our investment, and in our
democracy, we have control over it. What possible reason would we have for
turning it over to the Chamber of Commerce? What’s in it for us?
"It’s easy enough to see what’s in it for the Chamber of
Commerce – power and authority to build future roads where it wants, in
the interests of developers, industry and shippers. The proposed authority
might be not-for-profit, but its backers won’t be. They will be driven
by the bottom line on their own balance sheets, and that is not a good
motivation for providing public services," Casselman said.
"Public services must serve the needs of all citizens, not just
those with the deepest pockets. Public services must make the safety of
citizens a top priority. Public services must be driven by a long-term
vision of the future, not the imperative of the next quarterly statement.
"The system we now have is publicly accountable. Citizens,
governments – and the Chamber of Commerce – all have opportunity for
input, a chance to be heard, access to the process. We own it, in every
sense of the word. It doesn’t make sense to give it away," she
said.
A bill before the Ontario legislature would pave the way for
privatizing all aspects of "road user safety" and clearly the
prospect has the Chamber salivating, Casselman said. This deserves a lot
more than the 90-day study proposed by the Chamber. It takes longer than
that for the public to come to grips with the implications of such a huge
change.
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For further information:
Katie FitzRandolph (OPSEU Communications) (416) 448-7440; home (416)
967-5964;
e-mail: kfitzrandolph@opseu.org
Leah Casselman (OPSEU President) (416) 443-8888 Ext. 300
