Report exposes Risks of Privatization of Canadian municipal water services through CETA
CUPE-Quebec and Eau Secours! produced a report and recommendations on the implications of the Canadian - European Union Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations on water.

The report explains and speaks against the inclusion of public services markets, including municipal water services in the negotiations. Lobbying from large European corporations, including large water services companies, seems to have played a role in putting these public services on the agenda for the CETA talks that are slated to come to a close by the end of the year. We must not let this pass.

This report also refers to a 2010 Council of Canadians and CUPE report on how CETA opens up our water services to privatization to the detriment of the citizens. You can read it here. You can also read this op-ed published in French media by ATTAC-Québec on the risks and secrecy related to these very important negotiations that are happening without public discussion. A meeting was held in Ottawa during the federal election campaign a few weeks ago.

The op-ed also states that Europe has undergone a vast array of privatization of public services, from postal services, to water distribution, and all have seen price increases and lower quality service.

The secret is out on the agreement and its consequences could be all too real. The Canadian government needs to come out of its silence and engage in an important public debate on the issue.

The polaris Institute is a member of the Eau Secours! Coalition.