Sunday, February 24, 2008


LOCAL NEWS:
WINNIPEG'S 'ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION' (EOC)- GATE TO REDUCING PUBLIC SERVICES:
Conceived by Mayor Sam Katz, and produced by a panel consisting of business representatives, Winnipeg's Economic Opportunity Commission, has proposed to eliminate $55 million from city revenues by abolishing the business tax. This commission, which produced its report without any public consultation, claimed that the lost tax revenue could be recouped by increasing participation of the City in public-private partnerships (PPPs), amongst other reductions of civic services. The Manitoba Federation of Labour has an article on this subject that is a gateway to other valuable sources critical of this plan. The MFL has also arranged a series of public meetings on the subject so that the public can actually have some input into what is planned for our city. The callout for the meetings follows below...
Winnipeg: Public not Private
Can we afford to lose $56 million?

The Economic Opportunity Commission wants to cut $56m in business taxes. The EOC report proposes to close, reduce, contract out or privatize city services (recreation centres, libraries, health inspections, snow removal, etc.) and you will have to pay more for what you get.

What Can You Do? Learn about what is planned. Find out how you will be affected. Attend one of the Public Meetings being organized by the Winnipeg Labour Council and the Canadian Labour Congress.

*Saturday Feb. 23, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Melrose Park C.C., 480 Kimberly Ave.
*Monday Feb. 25, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Silver Heights C.C., 2080 Ness Ave.
*Wednesday Feb. 27, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Sinclair Park C.C., 490 Sinclair St.
*Wednesday Feb. 27, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, River Osborne C.C., 101 Pembina Hwy.
*Thursday Feb. 28, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Northwood C.C., 1415 Burrows Ave.
*Thursday Feb. 28, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Orioles C.C., 448 Burnell St.
* Saturday March 1, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Oxford Heights C.C., 359 Dowling Ave E
*Monday March 3, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Winakwa C.C., 980 Winakwa Road

Further information is available at 942-0522 or at www.winnipeglabour.ca

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