2004:05 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS P3S
Whereas
some governments in Canada are looking towards public-private partnerships (P3s) to meet the cost of new public infrastructure; and
Whereas
depending on specific contracts, P3s allow private investors to design, build and own public infrastructure, which they then rent to the public sector, with payments assured from government tenants and profits going to private investors; and
Whereas
P3s may also allow for the operation of facilities by the private investors; and
Whereas
private ownership means that there is concern that operational decisions affecting patient care may be controlled by investors’ bottom line rather than by professional medical staff; and
Whereas
experience in the United Kingdom and the United States has shown that services may suffer, as for example the number of beds being cut and staff budgets reduced; and
Whereas
private financing will cost the taxpayer more in the long run, because of the need for investor profits, and because of the higher cost of borrowing for private investors as compared with the cost of government borrowing as pointed out by Lewis Auerbach, former Director in the office of the Auditor General of Canada, and confirmed by numerous studies arising out of British and United States experience; therefore be it
Resolved
that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy that public-private partnerships (P3s) for public infrastructure, particularly for Health Care and Educational Institutions, be accepted only after careful and open examination by the Government of Canada; and be it further
Resolved
that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to examine the impact of public-private partnerships (P3s), especially for Health Care and Educational Institutions, and advise the public of their findings before proceeding with further development of such arrangements and that P3s be rejected unless significant benefit and improvement to service delivery can be demonstrated; and be it further
Resolved
that the National Council of Women of Canada request its Local and Provincial Councils of Women to adopt as policy that public-private partnerships (P3s) for public infrastructure, particularly for Health Care and Educational Institutions be accepted only after careful examination by all relevant levels of government.