The Council replies: Letters to the editor
Council works to defend public interest

November 5, 2009
Meera Kaurnananthan
Re: Deputy mayor has fill of water activists, Telegraph Journal, November 2, 2009

Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase obscures the facts by dismissing the Council of Canadians as being influenced by CUPE

The Council of Canadians is proud to work in solidarity with labour groups like CUPE, but our mandate and almost all our funding comes from our own membership comprised of individuals from across the country and from all walks of life who are concerned with social justice and environmental issues.

We also work with a number of other organizations to promote campaigns that defend the public interest.

Local governments in Canada provide some of the best public services in the world. We are fighting to maintain and improve them through public solutions that empower communities.

Private-public-partnerships allow private corporations to make profits from basic services through long-term contracts that bind municipal governments to arrangements that protect private revenues. These deals typically result in rate hikes, the slashing of a highly trained workforce and the elimination of measures that protect the environment. This is why Hamilton, Ont., took water services back into public hands in 2004 after disastrous experiences with private sector involvement.

We acknowledge that there are many people in Canada who don't have access to the excellent water and wastewater services enjoyed by the majority and recognize the need for bottled water in emergency situations. However, the long-term solution is to ensure that all Canadians have equal access to safe, clean drinking water through strong public services. Maintaining a situation where some are forced to purchase bottled water is not acceptable.

Meera Karunananthan is the National Water Campaigner for the Council of Canadians