OPSEU backs Hampton in Kenora – Rainy River

KENORA – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union has endorsed NDP leader Howard Hampton as its preferred winner of the Kenora – Rainy River riding in the upcoming Ontario election.

"Howard Hampton is not afraid to stand up for working people and he’s not afraid to stand up for the public interest," said OPSEU president Leah Casselman. "We are solidly behind him in this election."

Under Hampton’s leadership, the NDP is the only party that seems to have grasped the full significance of the Harris government’s agenda of tax cuts and privatization, Casselman said.

"Cutting taxes and selling off public services have exactly the same goal," she said, "and that is to shrink the public sector and turn public services over to the for-profit private sector, also known as the friends of the Tories. Job loss for public employees is just the short-term effect of that.

"The long-term effect is that access to services is reduced, and the gap between rich and poor grows wider and wider."

OPSEU is well into the process of recruiting volunteers for Hampton’s campaign, Casselman said.

"Howard has walked with us on the picket lines," Casselman said. "We’ll definitely be wearing out some shoe leather for him."

OPSEU is backing all incumbent New Democrats in the June 3 Ontario election.

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For more information: Randy Robinson (416) 448-7441; (416) 315-2982

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