Winnipeg chapter activist Michael Welch at Winnipeg City Hall.
The Winnipeg Free Press reports that, “The Council of Canadians-Winnipeg Chapter announced this morning it had filed a complaint (with the Provincial Ombudsman’s office over city hall’s refusal to release details on the controversial Veolia contract) and is encouraging candidates in the civic election to make the Veolia contract a key campaign issue.”
The article notes, “In May, city council approved a 30-year, $1.2-billion contract with Veolia to design, build and help manage $661 million in upgrades to two plants so they meet strict new provincial waste-water standards meant to clean up Lake Winnipeg. In return, Veolia promises to save the city between 10 to 20 per cent of the $1.2-billion contract. Mayor Sam Katz has refused to divulge terms of what critics call a secret deal on the ground it could hurt Veolia’s business interests. No one on council has seen the contract, which was drafted by city hall’s legal staff. Mayoral candidate Judy Wasylycia-Leis has already singled out the Veolia contract in her criticism of what she described as Katz’s secret city hall agenda.”
For a recent campaign blog on the Veolia contract, please go to http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=3528. Today’s Winnipeg Free Press article is at http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/breakingnews/Complaint-filed-over-Veolia-contract-103530009.html.
