[LabComm] James calls on Premier to come clean on plans to privatize ICBC

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

VICTORIA - Premier Gordon Campbell needs to come clean on his government's plans to privatize significant portions of the ICBC workforce and tell the public how far his government intends to go in selling off the Crown Corporation, NDP Leader Carole James said today.

Yesterday, ICBC confirmed that it is looking to sell off its information and technology division.   This follows the appointment of Paul Taylor to head up the corporation.  Taylor is one of the key privatization architects of the Campbell government and the man behind the scheme to privatize the Coquihalla and the sell-off of BC Rail.

"ICBC is successful, it provides good service and excellent value, and most importantly, it protects consumers from the kind of insurance gouging consumers in other provinces often have to endure," said James.  "But, as we've seen so many times before –BC Hydro, BC Ferries, and BC Rail, under this Premier any public asset that works gets broken up and sold."

James said that the Premier and his hand-picked appointee Paul Taylor have a responsibility to lay out their plans for ICBC before the next election.  She said the public is very concerned that having failed to privatize insurance, the government hopes to sell off ICBC piece by piece.

"Just like BC Rail, BC Hydro, and the Coquihalla, the Premier can't be trusted to protect assets that work for the province," said James.  "He's been bitten by the privatization bug and can't make rational decisions, chasing every privatization scheme that comes along, no matter how ill thought-out."

James said that the NDP would protect public insurance, keeping ICBC whole, to keep rates low for BC consumers.  

"Whether it's BC Hydro, BC Ferries or ICBC, the NDP will protect BC assets and see that they deliver a return to their customers and to the taxpayer."

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