Privatization, P3s & public services

So why is all the good writing on privatization of liquor distribution in the business press?

May 17, 2012

Privatization of government assets is always a controversial subject. One side says the genius of the marketplace will cut costs and improve efficiency. The other side says costs will go up and the public will lose control. One thing both sides should agree on, however, is that the process should be transparent. Thanks to Business… View Article

BC’s P3s promise “eye-watering” profits” for private investors. And more of them coming

May 9, 2012

By Keith Reynolds

Two stories that came out on the same day last week should raise concerns about where the BC government continues to go with public private partnerships (P3s). The government announced it was going to build two hospitals on Vancouver Island in Campbell River and in the Comox Valley. Premier Clark then told the Campbell River… View Article

Canadians want higher taxes from the federal budget

Mar 29, 2012

By Iglika Ivanova

The Globe and Mail released the results of a new poll they conducted on what Canadian priorities are for the upcoming budget. The findings seem to have stumped at least some of the journalists, judging by their account: What stood out most was the across-the-board call for higher taxes. Yes, you read that right. Respondents… View Article

BC isn’t broke: putting teacher bargaining in perspective

Mar 2, 2012

By Iglika Ivanova

Last Monday, BC teachers held a Day of Action in communities across the province to protest the BC government’s decision to legislate a contract and put an end to their collective bargaining process. I was invited to speak to teachers at the Surrey rally, where I had the opportunity to share some of my analysis… View Article

Tax haven based company buys more BC P3s: British Auditor General questions profits in such transactions

Feb 14, 2012

By Keith Reynolds

Two of British Columbia’s public private partnership (P3) projects have changed hands again and once again the new owner resides in a European tax haven. In a separate but related development, last Friday Britain’s Auditor General released a report questioning very high level of profits for some British P3 projects partially generated by flipping the… View Article

New Brunswick Auditor General latest to blast public private partnerships

Jan 15, 2012

By Keith Reynolds

One more provincial Auditor General has come out swinging at public private partnerships (P3s). Last week New Brunswick’s AG released a report on two P3 schools that had been announced by the NB government in 2008. New Brunswick Auditor General Kim MacPherson joins public auditors in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia who have… View Article

Is it P3s or the 3 Stooges? A tale of two cities

Nov 30, 2011

By Keith Reynolds

For those of us not fond of the expensive and secretive public private partnerships (P3s) promoted by the BC and Canadian governments, the last few weeks have been entertaining. In one community voters rejected the use of a P3 water system. In another community the federal government refused a P3 after the city had spent… View Article

The Union of BC Municipalities Convention: a potpourri of policy

Oct 2, 2011

By Keith Reynolds

For people who follow local policy issues the annual meeting of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) is always chock-a-block with material. Last week’s meeting in Vancouver, which saw hundreds of mayors and councilors along with most of the Cabinet, much of the BC opposition and dozens of groups selling both items and ideas, was… View Article

Public private partnerships under increasing attack in the UK

Aug 19, 2011

By Keith Reynolds

While British Columbia continues to invest billions in public private partnerships(P3s), a UK Parliamentary Committee today told its government to “wean itself off the practice.” The Treasury Select Committee found: We have not seen clear evidence of savings and benefits in other areas of PFI projects which are sufficient to offset this significantly higher cost of… View Article

Deconstructing BC’s carbon neutral government

Jul 13, 2011

By Marc Lee

Besides the carbon tax, one of the most important BC government climate action initiatives has been the adoption of Carbon Neutral Government. That is, count emissions from public buildings and travel, reduce them as much as possible and pay for carbon offsets to negate the rest. As of the 2010 calendar year, the BC government… View Article

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A progressive take on BC issues

A progressive take on BC issues

Privatization, P3s & public services

So why is all the good writing on privatization of liquor distribution in the business press?

BC’s P3s promise “eye-watering” profits” for private investors. And more of them coming

Canadians want higher taxes from the federal budget

BC isn’t broke: putting teacher bargaining in perspective

Tax haven based company buys more BC P3s: British Auditor General questions profits in such transactions

New Brunswick Auditor General latest to blast public private partnerships

Is it P3s or the 3 Stooges? A tale of two cities

The Union of BC Municipalities Convention: a potpourri of policy

Public private partnerships under increasing attack in the UK

Deconstructing BC’s carbon neutral government