Harper's record under review.
from the Canadian Union of Public Employees
CUPE was at the United Nations in Geneva last week drawing international attention to the Harper Conservatives' efforts to privatize Canada's municipal water and wastewater systems and to the need for accessible, safe public water.
The Harper government's human rights record is being reviewed by member states of the UN. CUPE has been meeting with diplomats from countries involved in the review to share concerns about the Conservatives' water policies.
"Water is a human right, and it is the responsility of Canada's federal government to acknowledge and protect that right for every Canadian," said Paul Moist, national president of CUPE. "The track record of the Harper Conservative government, however, shows they are more concerned with corporations profiting from water first and foremost."
In the Geneva discussions, CUPE has been voicing concerns over the government's strategy for forcing public-private partnerships (P3s) onto municipal governments.
“Water is a human right, and it is the responsility of Canada’s federal government to acknowledge and protect that right for every Canadian,” said Paul Moist, national president of CUPE.
"Prime Minister Stephen Harper has inexplicably tied federal infrastructure funding to a condition that they are tendered as P3 projects, forcing municipalities in dire need of support in maintaining crumbling infrastructure to privatize their water and waste water systems," said Moist. "We hope UN member states will take the opportunity to press the Harper Conservative government on recognizing the human right to water and sanitation by keeping water services in public hands, and question their 'P3 or nothing' edict."
CUPE is also highlighting the higher costs and loss of public control inherent in P3 models during the Geneva discussions.
"We are making it clear to the international community: the best way to ensure Canadians' right to water is protected is to keep our water and wastewater systems in public hands," said Moist.
About Canadian Union of Public Employees
With 618,000 members across Canada, CUPE represents workers in health care, education, municipalities, libraries, universities, social services, public utilities, transportation, emergency services and airlines.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.