Fraud stopper events in Toronto TODAY

TORONTO, June 14, 2012 /CNW/ - There is 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 today, 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:	12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Where:	Yonge St. and Finch Ave., Toronto
When:	12 noon - 2 p.m.
Where:	393 University Ave, (just south of Dundas), Toronto
When:	12 noon - 1:30 p.m.
Where:	Queen's Park complex, Bay St. and Wellesley St., Toronto

"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 that 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."

 

Yonge and Finch
Stacey Gittens, Steward, OPSEU Local 555
647.377.6346 Mobile

University Ave.
Pamela Serrattan, OPSEU Local 528 2nd VP
416.435.1601 Mobile

Bay and Wellesley
Noeline Ah-Hone, President, OPSEU Local 502
[phone] Mobile