Freedom Flyer 11

By DAVID HELWIG
Special to The Globe and Mail

LONDON, Ont.

In a marvel of modern political science, the Freedom Party of Ontario is hoping to generate votes from rubbish.

The 300-member, provincially registered party has called a press conference this morning to announce its scheme to provide free trash removal during what is expected to be a long strike by London garbage collectors and other outside workers.

Wayne Brand, president of Local 107 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, said originally that the strike would begin yesterday. But by the end of the working day, most of the local's 450 members were still on the job.

About 150 employees whose jobs are dependent on heavy equipment were sent home by city officials, who expressed concern that equipment would be stranded if workers left their jobs during the day. The 150 employees were paid for four hours work.

The union is expected to announce its revised strike plans some time today.

The major issue in the dispute is the hiring of private contractors for snow-removal jobs.

At the Freedom Party's provincial headquarters yesterday, volunteers were planning their garbage collection service, which will begin with a rented truck driven by Marc Emery, owner of a local bookstore and a cofounder of the London-based party.

In an interview, Mr. Emery said the truck will be used at least nine hours a day to pick up garbage in selected residential areas.

"We will be sending at least three tonnes to a landfill site outside the city," Mr. Emery said.

He said his party has enough money to run the service for one month, and donations will be sought to expand the operation to as many as 10 trucks.

The cost of running one truck, including dumping fees, is $3,400 a month, Mr. Emery said.