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Thomas asks: Can Ford and the PC’s be trusted to protect our private data?

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Toronto – The President of the Ontario Public Services Employees Union is calling on the Progressive Conservatives to level with voters on whether the Tories made use of the private information of thousands of Ontarians who used Highway 407.

The company that runs the toll highway is alleging the information was stolen and it has notified police. OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is alarmed by media reports and social media chatter that have linked the information to the Conservative campaign. Thomas is calling for Ford to ask for a police investigation to get the truth.

“Doug Ford should identify and remove any Conservative candidate if they are found to have made any use of this information,” Thomas said.

“If Ford wants to be premier, he’s going to have to convince us that he’s up to the job of protecting our private information. If he can’t, do we really want to give him the keys to all the private financial and health information that we trust our government with?”

Thomas noted that it was a previous Conservative government that privatized the 407 for a song and along with the Hydro One mess shows why voters should not support parties that favour privatization, Thomas said.

“Premier Wynne lost her good sense the moment she teamed up with Ed Clark to sell off Hydro One,” said Thomas. “Now we have suggestions that today’s Tories are politically profiting from the failed 407 privatization scheme of yesterday’s Harris Conservatives.”

Voters have a right to know the truth and to know it now, said OPSEU First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida.

It shows how important it is for voters to think long and hard about who they cast ballots for, Almeida added.

“If there ever was a time to kick the tires, Ontarians should do so now,” said Almeida.  “The future of our province is at stake and there’s no longer room for parties who are unable to prove they can be trusted.”

For more information: Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931