THUNDER BAY -- Ontario’s NDP leader says her party will fight to keep public assets out of private hands.
The Premier's Advisory Council on Government Assets is expected to submit a report on Hydro One, OPG and the LCBO by the end of the year on how to make sure the province is getting as much value as it can from those assets.
But in Thunder Bay Wednesday morning outside of the LCBO on Arthur St., NDP leader Andrea Horwath said it's really a way to privatization.
"This is a wrongheaded thing to do," she said.
"These are your assets. They are Ontario's. They belong to you."
The first principle of the council is to make sure public interest is the top priority.
Horwath said that can be done by making sure the province's hydro system is public in order to provide affordable energy.
On the LCBO Horwath said the organization generates revenue for the province which goes into everything from roads to health care.
Privatized alcohol sales will also reduce choices.
"That's not going to be good in terms of consumer opportunities and look, the LCBO brings a lot of money into Ontario coffers," she said.
Horwath is also in the city to meet with riding associations to discuss the last provincial election, where her party saw less support in both Thunder Bay-Atikokan and Thunder Bay-Superior North.
The NDP are asking candidates, volunteers and supporters what went right or wrong in the last campaign.
"That's ultimately what we have to do," Horwath said.
MPP Bill Mauro (Thunder Bay - Atikokan) was not immediately avaialbe for comment.
