Energy Professionals response to Drummond Recommendations
TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - The Society of Energy Professionals has slammed Don Drummond for suggesting that the Province consider privatizing assets and moving to the private delivery of services as a fix to Ontario's deficit situation.
"We acknowledge that deficits and debt build-ups are indeed economic problems that could eventually impose serious constraints on the government's ability to deliver much needed public services but cutting or privatizing services is not the route to go." Rod Sheppard, Society President says.
"We know from personal experience that privatization doesn't work. Since Ontario Hydro was partially privatized, rates have more than doubled" Sheppard added. "More recently the Ornge fiasco provides yet another cautionary tale about privatization"
Sheppard also said that Government revenue must be on the agenda.
"We reject a narrative in which less government is always better government; a narrative that constructs working people, public servants and the recipients of public services and government support as the cause of Ontario's financial woes"
Sheppard says that eliminating the deficit in a hurry will only worsen the social and economic problems many Ontarians are facing today.
"The already marginalized in society will suffer even more if the Government moves too quickly to reduce the deficit"
Sheppard says it is imperative that public hearings be held on both on the Drummond Report and on the 2012 Budget.
"The Drummond exercise was a secretive one, with a limited mandate and too selective with respect to the stakeholders they consulted"
The Society of Energy Professionals represent more than 8300 engineers, telecommunications and information technology professionals and information technology professionals, scientists and others who for generations have designed built, operated and helped safeguard Ontario's vast electricity system. The Society's members work for Ontario Power Generation, Hydro One, Bruce Power, the IESO, the OEB, the ESA and other key electricity sector employers.
Bob Kanduth,
Communications Officer
416.979.2709 x 4002
Cell 647.404.8918
or
Rod Sheppard,
President
416.979. 2709 x 3039
Cell 416.670.6835
Share this article