OPSEU plans lunchtime protest over ServiceOntario privatization
Posted February 17, 2012 9:48 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ontario government workers have planned a lunchtime protest over the Liberals’ plan to privatize ServiceOntario.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) says it will hold information pickets from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Friday outside ServiceOntario offices across the province.
In Toronto, the protests will happen at offices on Bay Street and on Sheppard Avenue East near Yonge.
OPSEU says privatization will “severely reduce” access to services and jeopardize the security of personal information.
On Monday, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced Queen’s Park would allow the private sector to invest in ServiceOntario — a program that allows residents to renew driver’s licences and health cards and access other services online, in person, at kiosks or by phone.
“We are convinced that a stronger public-private partnership in ServiceOntario is the right way to go and help us stay on track in reducing the deficit,” he said in a speech to the Economic Club of Canada.
OPSEU has more pickets planned for the coming weeks.
