Public services and privatization

Subscribe to Public services and privatization
(Vancouver) The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a major new study today called Cost Shift: How British Columbians are paying for their tax cut. The study examines a dynamic the Centre calls "cost shifting"--the transfer of costs off the government books and onto individuals, families, and in some cases employers. It reveals that while some individuals and families remain ahead financially after the tax and spending cuts, the gains of most are either precarious or have already been wiped out.
In June 2001 the provincial government introduced massive income tax cuts. It promised this would put more money in British Columbians’ pockets without a reduction in public services.  Cost Shift looks at what actually happened. It finds that costs for public services are in fact being transferred off the government’s books and onto individuals and families, and in some cases employers. Although income taxes were reduced, other fees and taxes have increased. 
(Vancouver) The CCPA has published a policy brief called "Health care restructuring in BC." It considers the implications of the provincial government's plan for health care reorganization, announced on April 23, 2002. The report's three co-authors, Sylvia Fuller, Colleen Fuller and Marcy Cohen, are available for interviews.
(Vancouver) The BC government claims that changes to BC Hydro under its new Energy Plan are relatively minor. They are nothing of the sort--the changes will radically and irrevocably change the nature of BC Hydro. That's the conclusion of a new paper by SFU professor Marjorie Griffin Cohen entitled Gutting a Power House: BC Hydro and the new Energy Plan, released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
(Vancouver) The author of a CCPA report released today on the proposed P3 (public-private partnership) for the RAV (Richmond-Airport/Vancouver rapid transit line) is calling for the development of an independent 'public sector comparator' by BC's Auditor General. Blair Redlin says such a comparison of public and private sector costs and risks is needed before TransLink and the GVRD make a decision about the RAV, and before a Request for Proposals (RPF) is issued.