Fraud stopper events in Thunder Bay tomorrow

THUNDER BAY, ON, June 13, 2012 /CNW/ - There's a clear threat of fraud, identify theft, and other privacy breaches if the Ontario government is allowed to sell off ServiceOntario, warn the people who protect the personal information of every Ontarian.

Wearing stickers that identify them as fraud stoppers, ServiceOntario workers are holding lunch-time events in front of their workplaces in Ontario cities on Thursday, June 14. They will alert the public and ask them to visit saveserviceontario.ca for more information and to tell their MPPs to stop the privatization.

					When:    12 noon - 1 p.m., Thursday, June 14 Where:  Ontario Government Building, Red River Rd., Thunder Bay

"The Liberals are wrong when they say they can safeguard personal information after they turn ServiceOntario over to the private sector," says Ontario Public Service Employees Union president Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

Thomas told public hearings last week the government must delete proposed legislation that will allow the sell-off. Three hours after his submission, the government had to shut down privately-operated kiosks because of a security breach.

Ontarians must use ServiceOntario to get birth certificates, driver's licences, health cards, and other government identification. Birth certificates are the gateway to identity theft. The threat to privacy is all the more serious if ServiceOntario goes to a U.S. company or its subsidiary.

"The U.S. Patriot Act forces disclosure of information without notice and in secret," says Thomas. "That legislation is sweeping and intrusive. And lawyers have advised no contract or legislation can override it."

Sandra Snider, President, OPSEU Local 736
807.630.4751