Citizens pay "a terrible long-term price to plug short-term budget holes."
WASHINGTON, DC, July 31, 2012: State and local budget crises and the election of anti-government ideologues have left taxpayers and communities increasingly vulnerable to predatory "privatization" of government services and public infrastructure. "Desperate government is our best customer," says one finance company executive specializing in the privatization of public infrastructure. A new report from People For the American Way documents that the push to privatize public services and assets often reduces the quality of services, burdens taxpayers and threatens democratic government.
"The combination of budget deficits, anti-tax ideology and financial predators can be deadly to the interests of citizens and communities," said People For the American Way President Michael Keegan. "Right-wing anti-government and anti-union ideologues are exploiting tough economic times and taking advantage of desperate public officials. The public picks up the tab but gives up control and accountability. The public good should never be on the auction block. If citizens are not vigilant, they will end up paying a terrible long-term price for deals to plug short-term budget holes. "
TORONTO, ON, August 13, 2012: "The Minister is creating a crisis in education that simply does not exist," said Ken Coran, President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) in response to the Minister of Education Laurel Broten's press conference.
TORONTO, ON, August 8, 2012: The 
OTTAWA, ON, July 27, 2012: July 28th marked the two-year anniversary of the historic United Nations General Assembly resolution recognizing the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. This human right has yet to be fully implemented, however, prompting water justice activists from around the world to release an open letter demanding action from governments.
August 7, 2012: As the City of Toronto handed over the collection of solid waste west of Yonge Street to a private firm, officials from the Toronto Civic Employees Union (CUPE Local 416) announced August 7 that the union has set-up a special hotline for people to call if they have concerns or complaints about the reduced quality of service they will receive.
OTTAWA, ON, July 23, 2012: Under the Conservative government, Canada Post offices are being closed across the country and services are being transferred to private postal outlets. This silent privatisation negatively impacts services that citizens and businesses rely on.
ST. ANDREWS, NB, July 18, 2012: Leaders of the largest federal public sector unions were in St. Andrews, New Brunswick to join a groundswell of opposition to federal cuts at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans's St. Andrews Biological Station. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada's (PIPSC) National President Gary Corbett, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) National Vice-President Chris Aylward and the Union of Environment Workers (UEW) National President Todd Panas joined politicians and experts in marine science at a town hall event at the Fundy Discovery Aquarium. The station's Contaminants and Toxicology Department has been eliminated, its library is being moved and some of its employees have received "affected" letters. And the community is fighting back.
July 23, 2012: Higher universal costs will result from permitting extra-billing by medical practitioners, writes David Schreck in The Tyee. Schreck explains how extra-billing affects patients and their access to health care, countering arguments that spending private dollars to reach the front of the line is harmless by demonstrating the value of fee negotiations.