Winnipeg – CUPE Local 998 (representing workers at Manitoba Hydro, including in the PowerSmart program) will be on-site to voice opposition at the Legislative Committee hearings on Bill 19 tonight.
Bill 19 (Efficiency Manitoba Act) seeks to carve out the PowerSmart program from Manitoba Hydro and establish a separate energy efficiency crown corporation.
“PowerSmart is an important program housed in Manitoba Hydro that helps Manitobans achieve energy efficiency targets and savings,” says Chris Mravinec, President of CUPE 998.
“It makes no sense to divorce our public energy efficiency program from our public hydro”.
The government re-scheduled committee hearings to tonight at 6pm, after failing to pass committee hearings on May 11 following numerous presentations, including from CUPE 998, and an hours-long filibuster by Conservative MLA Steven Fletcher.
“We hope the government comes to its senses on Bill 19 in ‘round-two’ of committee hearings”, says Mravinec.
CUPE Local 998 launched an online petition that has garnered over 300 signatures and numerous comments since it was launched on May 17.
For more information contact:
(204) 391-7939 Chris Mravinec, President CUPE 998
(204) 801-7339 David Jacks, CUPE Communications
