[LabComm] Campbell government to give boat loads of your money to private inland ferry operators?

[Marshall, Teresa]

Wednesday, August 27, 2003
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
CAMPBELL GOVERNMENT TO GIVE BOAT LOADS OF YOUR MONEY TO PRIVATE INLAND
FERRY OPERATORS?
 
The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union is warning that the
Campbell government may be giving away boat loads of taxpayers' money by
turning over B.C.'s inland ferries to private operators.  
 
The union is challenging the provincial government to prove its plans
will bring cost savings and no immediate cost increases. Until this is
clearly demonstrated to the public, the union is demanding the
government put a moratorium on the privatization of inland ferries.
 
"B.C. taxpayers have a right to know whether we are all going to be
paying more to subsidize this privatization scheme," says Byron Goerz, a
BCGEU provincial executive member. "Further, the Campbell government
needs to guarantee local communities that the quality of ferry service
will not go down."
 
There's a whole checklist of questions this government must responsibly
answer, before proceeding with privatization of inland ferries, Goerz
says.
 
He points out that the provincial government buys fuel tax-free, but a
private company must add tax costs. The government can also borrow money
for new ferries or expanded services at much lower rates than private
business. While the government self-insures its operations, private
contractors face escalating insurance costs. 
 
Goerz asks, "How will private operators avoid introducing tolls when
their operating costs will be higher than the government's? Or, will we
be paying more through a contractor's inflated bid price?" 
 
The B.C. Auditor General's recent report on public-private partnerships
(P3's) noted that the public expects the government to identify the
risks associated with each partnership and to explain how it intends to
manage these projects in an open and transparent manner. 
 
The government is expected to announce soon the successful bidder who
will take over operating the Francois Lake ferry, south of Burns Lake.
Goerz suggests that if this private contract proceeds, the government
should audit its operations for three years to prove whether there are
clear cost benefits. Meanwhile, he says, it doesn't make fiscal sense to
go ahead with further privatization.
 
"I urge British Columbians to let their local MLAs know that - just like
the Coquihalla Highway - our public inland ferry system is not for
sale."
 
The Campbell government has indicated it plans to privatize all inland
ferries by March 31, 2004.  The inland ferries are vital links in our
Interior economy - for the forest sector, the tourism industry, and
local residents who need access to schools, hospitals, and groceries. 
 
-30-
 
Media, please contact Byron Goerz (604) 790-1666
or Teresa Marshall, BCGEU communications (604) 291-9611 ext. 454  
 
opeiu 378
 
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://bcfed.net/pipermail/labcomm/attachments/20030827/1012f5b3/attachment.html>