from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Despite assurances by the federal government that spending cuts would target the "back office" and avoid cuts to services, a new analysis by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives finds spending cuts have disproportionately focused on service delivery.
from the Socialist Project
The public sector is a key battleground for a progressive trade union strategy and for an alternative to neoliberalism in Europe. On the one hand the existence of a public sector is a continuing example that a not for profit driven production of goods and services is not only possible in the 21st century — it is also preferable. On the other hand in many countries the public sector is the last stronghold of organized labour. Even though public sector workers are under continuous pressure, in many places they still enjoy significant job security and comparably decent employment and working conditions.
from the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).
Almost a year after the motion was passed, Parliament's finance committee will finally hold meetings to discuss the issue of rising income inequality in Canada.
from the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees
Cuts at the College of the North Atlantic (CNA) could have far-reaching implications, according to the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE).
from CounterPunch
The privatization scam, writes David Rosen in Counter Punch, is abundant proof to corporations that a sucker is born every day. Vacuuming up taxpayers' money, an unholy alliance of government and business interests ensure a staggering profit line with no consideration for social, environmental or health consequences.
from Postmedia News
Sarah Schmidt of Postmedia News, in the second of a series, looks at the current state of Transport Canada's aviation safety systems. Despite an admirable accident record, critics argue the current situation is like asking a speeding driver to write himself a ticket. Some are calling for a commission of inquiry into air safety.
from the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union
Cuts of public service workers in this year's budget will hurt families and communities as frontline services are eroded while costs will escalate because of contracting out, says SGEU.
from the Ontario Health Coalition
While Ontarians are asked to accept deep cuts to hospital and health services, Ontario Health Coalition Director Natalie Mehra questions why there is no public audit of $4 billion in private-public partnership construction of hospitals, particularly when new international evidence of exorbitant P3 profit-taking has recently come to light.
In a submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, the OHC points to recent reports out of Great Britain of astronomical profit-taking of 66.7 percent, paid to P3 consortia involved in major hospital projects.
The coalition says that Infrastructure Ontario's own documents indicate much higher costs for construction and financing of P3s compared to public sector comparators. The entire financial case for P3s rests on "the heavily contested notion" of risk transfer, evidence of which is unavailable and unaudited.
Cost curtailment in hospital and health services have totalled $3 billion in the past three years, and hospitals must find in the current fiscal year a further $1 billion in cuts. Meanwhile, says the coalition, six P3 hospital projects near completion total $4 billion in costs which have not been subject to any public interest oversight.
Only the Brampton Hospital was audited. The Auditor-General found that the P3 project was about $200 million more expensive than if the hospital had been built publicly.
The report states that all board members of Infrastructure Ontario come from private capital market firms, banks, architects, private insurance companies, private law firms involved in real estate commercial development, construction and P3 consulting firms.
“In other words, the board of Infrastructure Ontario is entirely populated with people who come out of corporations or entities with ties to vested interests in P3 profits and privatization,” states the report.
The OHC's recommendations to the standing committee include:
Read the full submission.
