Media Availability - Ed Clark protest targets hydro, eHealth privatizations

Date: Monday, October 17, 2016
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon
Place: Outside Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel, 525 Bay St.

TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2016 /CNW/ - "Ed Clark designed the disastrous privatization of Hydro One, and now he's setting his sights on our health records," says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "Well, I'm here to say that we're going to stop this privatization madness before it does any more damage."

Known as the "privatization czar" of Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government, Clark is scheduled to deliver a speech today at noon at the Marriott Hotel at 525 Bay St.

A longtime Bay Street insider, Clark is overseeing the sell-off of Hydro One (which paved the way for John Tory's plan to sell Toronto Hydro). Last week, Wynne's Liberals asked Clark to plan the privatization of Ontario's electronic health records system.

Thomas says that's not going to happen. "My union and I are going to make sure Clark and Wynne and all their Bay Street pals are never able to sell off our confidential health information, or anything else that belongs to us all," he says.

The citizens' coalition Hydro One Not For Sale has organized a protest outside Clark's speech. The protest starts at 11:30 am. Thomas is planning to attend, as will Hydro One Not For Sale chairperson Rosario Marchese.

"I've travelled across the province and I know that working people and small business owners hate the fact their hydro rates are being driven up by privatization," says Marchese. "It's time for Wynne to realize that if she keeps on taking Clark's advice, she and her fellow Liberals will never get re-elected."

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931