FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 2001
Accountability
evaporates as Flaherty hands over the reins of government
TORONTO -- Ontario Finance Minister Jim
Flaherty has used today's provincial budget announcement to hand the
reins of government over to the private sector, Ontario's leading
public sector union says.
"After viewing today's budget,
Ontarians may be forgiven for wondering why they even bothered voting
when the government at Queen's Park is prepared to give unelected,
unaccountable people a virtual veto on every single government
program," said Leah Casselman, president of the Ontario Public
Service Employees Union.
Flaherty announced today that "a
panel of experts in the private sector will be formed to review the
role of government in the 21st century…. This panel will
start a public discussion on where government does and does not
belong."
"The review and assessment of
government priorities is and must be the job of democratically-elected
representatives supported by an impartial, accountable, professional
public service," said Casselman. "Delegating this power to
private individuals whose main interest is private profit is a
profound conflict of interest. It is an abdication of responsibility
by the government and a slap in the face to every voter."
Casselman scoffed at Flaherty's
promises that the government would consult the public on public
services.
"The 'Value for Money Review' has
already announced the privatization of the Province of Ontario Savings
Office," she said, "even though the so-called 'expert panel'
doesn't exist yet. I am not aware of any consultation that has taken
place with the 176 OPSEU members at POSO, nor with the 28 communities
POSO serves.
"It is absolutely clear that the
real agenda of this government is wholesale privatization, no matter
what the cost to democratic accountability or quality public
services."
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For more information: Randy Robinson
(416) 315-2982
