[P3 Alert] June 2004

[p3alert@members.cupe.ca]

P3s: a key election issue

The current federal election campaign will have a big impact on the future of public private partnerships in Canada.

Vancouver rejects transit P3

Concerns over cost overruns and resistance to P3s have killed the BC plan to build a privatized Richmond-Airport-Vancouver transit line.

Legal challenge delays Brampton?s P3 hospital

A legal action launched by the Ontario Health Coalition, CUPE and other public sector unions has put the construction of Brampton?s P3 hospital on hold.

US Filter sold to Siemens

Moncton finds that its P3 contract for water treatment with US Filter has been bounced to a new conglomerate. Veolia Environnement, which owned US Filter and was part of the French-based Vivendi empire, has sold US Filter to Siemens, the German engineering group.

Public outperforms private education

Calgary?s public schools not only outperform private schools in academic programs, but their non-academic vocational training, extra-curricular activities and diverse student population complement the total education experience.

?Friendly? settlement on toll hike dispute

The corporation that owns Ontario?s toll Highway 407 is confident it will defeat a court challenge launched by the province. SNC-Lavalin?s president said a ?friendly? resolution to the dispute might be reached within six months.

BC health care workers hit hard

The Vancouver Island Health Authority is moving ahead with its privatization plans, contracting out more than 1,000 jobs in housekeeping and food services to Crothall Services Canada, a subsidiary of UK multinational Compass Group.

P3 jeopardizes Canadian privacy

Farming out administrative work to US multinationals is raising alarm bells in British Columbia concerning privacy.

P3 parking project approved in Calgary

The Calgary Health Region has approved a $23 million P3 parking project for the Foothills Hospital. The infrastructure will be designed, built and operated by the consortium Foothills Parkade Ltd.

Contracting out surgery hikes costs

British health minister John Hutton has admitted the National Health Service (NHS) pays much more for surgeries it contracts out ? 40 per cent more ? than it would to provide the surgery directly.

What does the giant Trojan Horse tell us?

CUPE hospital workers in Cornwall brought a giant Trojan Horse to their rally on May 14, demonstrating the threat posed by the provincial Liberals? plans to open up health care to privateers.

P3watch.ca

A new web site has been created to help share information and mobilize public opposition to public private partnerships in the health care sector.