Sample Letters to the Editor

• If your municipal council is considering privatization

For publication

To the Editor;

Imagine opening your mail to get a bill for the air you've breathed over the last month.

A scenario nearly as unimaginable may soon become reality in our community. Corporations that can't control the air we breathe want to own and control the next best thing: the water we drink. And our municipal council is considering handing our water services to just such a corporation. The health, environmental and economic consequences will be devastating.

Our water is a public service we trust and rely on. Corporations see water services as a lucrative source of profit. They'll cut corners and hike prices to make that profit.

Water privatization experiments around the world have resulted in contaminated drinking water, increased incidences of diseases like dysentery and Hepatitis A, skyrocketing water bills and lower environmental standards. Here in Canada, Hamilton harbour had the largest sewage spill in its history soon after a private company took over the water treatment plant.

Facing a cash crunch thanks to countless services downloaded to municipalities, council is considering a shortsighted decision that will cost all of us dearly. Experience shows public financing, ownership and operation of water facilities is the efficient, safe and environmentally sound choice.

Once we hand away our water; we lose control of it forever. Citizens are saying no to water for profit. We can't let the unimaginable happen.

Sincerely

Source: Water Watch Campaign