FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2006
Privatization
creates security risk for OMAFRA information, union says
GUELPH – The planned sell-off
of mail and print services at the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) means information
about Ontario farm producers and agricultural organizations
could end up in the wrong hands, the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union says.
“OMAFRA handles a lot of
sensitive information relating to food producers, food
industry groups, and corporations,” said Doug Peebles,
president of OPSEU Local 232 at the OMAFRA head office in
Guelph. “Until now, they’ve never had to worry about how their
information, including financial information, was being
handled because it was all in the hands of public employees
who were directly accountable to the Minister. If a private
operator takes over, that direct accountability will be gone.”
OPSEU is inviting all
interested parties to a barbecue and rally on Wednesday to
protest the privatization, which affects seven jobs at 1 Stone
Road.
Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Time: 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. Place: 1 Stone Road complex
(picnic area near the cafeteria) GUELPH
Peebles noted that if the
company that takes over mail and print services for OMAFRA has
a U.S. affiliation, that company could be required to disclose
private records to American authorities under the U.S. Patriot
Act.
“We think the privacy of
Ontario food producers and farm organizations is too important
to put at risk just to save a handful of pennies.”
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For more information:
Doug Peebles (519) 240-1070
