While BC has not formally abandoned the P3 model, there is a notable absence of new P3 projects at a time when billions of dollars are being channeled to infrastructure spending. If P3s really provided value for money and brought the benefits of private sector efficiency and innovation to the delivery of public-sector infrastructure, then [...]
Entries Tagged as 'stimulus'
Is the stimulus killing the P3 model?
March 27th, 2009 · Iglika Ivanova · No Comments · BC Election 2009, Economy, Privatization, P3s & public services
Is funnelling money into shovel-ready projects the best strategy for infrastructure development?
March 27th, 2009 · Iglika Ivanova · No Comments · BC Election 2009, Economy, Provincial budget & finance
I often get asked: “Shouldn’t we support the Olympics or the Port Mann bridge (or any of the multitude of poorly handled infrastructure projects in our province) despite their substantial cost overruns on the grounds that they will create jobs and benefit the economy?”
The problem with this question is that it allows for two options [...]
Tags: passenger rail·Port Mann·recession·stimulus·transportation
The wrong kind of stimulus
March 13th, 2009 · Marc Lee · No Comments · BC Election 2009, Economy, Environment, resources & sustainability, Provincial budget & finance
I am a big fan of stimulus packages for our ailing economy. But my pitch has been that we need to use the occasion to retrofit our economy to be on a more sustainable footing. So it matters a great deal on what we spend those stimulus dollars. If we launch projects that take us [...]
Tags: oil and gas·Port Mann·stimulus
BC Budget 2009: Vanilla, No Sprinkles (revised)
February 17th, 2009 · Marc Lee · 1 Comment · BC Election 2009, Economy, Provincial budget & finance
Faced with a nasty recession at its doorstep, the BC budget is uninspiring and underwhelming in its ambition. Overall there is little that actively plans for a recession, preferring instead a steady-as-she-goes budget, perhaps aimed at cultivating the image of responsible economic managers in a time of crisis. There are no tax cuts or drastic [...]
Infrastructure – more than just 'guy jobs'
January 21st, 2009 · Rita Chudnovsky · No Comments · BC Election 2009, Children & youth, Women
Now that almost everyone seems to agree that public spending on infrastructure is a good idea - it’s time for another paradigm shift. Across the political continuum, infrastructure talk is still all about roads, bridges, and transit – sectors that overwhelmingly employ men.
But, to stimulate the economy, surely we need to invest in both social and physical infrastructure. Lets take child [...]
