[LabComm] PRESS RELEASE: July 22 re: CUPE cites federal report showing risks of private RAV, launches national email campaign

[Harprit Khaira]

Hi All:

Please find attached the above noted press release.

Attention BC Division:  Lori...please post to the web.

Area Office Support Staff:  Please distribute.

BC Regional Staff:  Hard copy is in your in-tray.


In Solidarity,

Harprit Khaira, Opeiu 491
Secretary, BCRO Communications



CUPE cites federal report showing risks of private RAV, launches national
email campaign

BURNABY – Given information in a leaked report citing great risks, CUPE is
launching a national e-mail campaign today to urge members of Parliament to
halt federal funding to the rapid-transit line linking Richmond and the
airport to downtown Vancouver.

“The federal government has done the homework that the B.C. Liberals should
have done before proposing a public private partnership for this ill-advised
project,” said acting CUPE BC president Mark Hancock. “And the private RAV
comes up far short.”

The B.C. Liberals pushed to have the line designed, built, operated and
maintained under a P3. But the report shows that the successful private
contractor would be liable for only 10 per cent of the risk.

“The federal government got it right and intelligent MPs, including
prime-ministerial hopeful Paul Martin, should insist on avoiding any
involvement in this questionable deal,” Hancock said.

“I wonder how people in Salmon Arm, Golden, Revelstoke or the Okanagan would
feel if federal funding earmarked for the Kicking Horse Pass project ended
up paying for the RAV?” he asked.
CUPE has launched its e-mail campaign at www.cupe.ca to allow citizens
across Canada to tell their MPs to stay clear of the deal before it becomes
a costly sinkhole for taxpayers’ dollars.

-30-

Contact: Ron Verzuh, CUPE Communications, 604-828-7668.
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