Tagged With: privatization
School District 61 and the NDP
Published in Lower Island News (Victoria), January 2007 It is not pleasant to question the actions of fellow New Democrats in a public forum like this newspaper. But sometimes it is essential, particularly when NDP members hold positions of trust and public responsibility. We must question the decision of a majority of School District No. … Continue reading
BC Experience shows failure of P3s
Published in Lower Island News (Victoria), October 2006 So the BC Experience has gone “belly up.” Big surprise. Campbell’s giveaway to CFAX millionaire Mel Cooper has left both the City of Victoria and BC government on the hook for uncollected expenses, along with 226 other unsecured creditors. Too bad the political will doesn’t exist to … Continue reading
Public healthcare still the best system
Letter to the Editor published in the Victoria Times Colonist, 10 June 2005 Lobby groups for private health corporations, such as the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and the Canadian Healthcare Association, are celebrating the Supreme Court ruling supporting private insurance. They have called this decision ‘historic.’ Taking a long-range approach to Canadian history, this decision signifies … Continue reading
Community centres need funding, not decommissioning
Letter to the Editor of the Victoria Times Colonist, August 2004 I am writing regarding the proposed closure of Victoria’s community centres. While action must be taken to meet the city’s future recreational needs, I am not convinced that city council is moving in the right direction. On July 8th, council received the report of … Continue reading
Sodexho makes me want to barf
Letter to the Editor published in The Brunswickan (Fredericton), 1 October 2003 As someone who is new to UNB, I find it strange that students and staff have little choice when it comes to healthy, affordable food. Why has this university handed over such an essential service to the private sector? It may be common to … Continue reading
The NDP and extra-parliamentary action: Lessons from BC
Published in Confrontation (Vancouver), August 2003 May 16, 2003 marked the two-year anniversary of the Campbell government’s election to office in BC. Having crippled NDP representation in the legislature, vested interests have embarked on a determined campaign to wipe out 50 years of social progress. And the Left has been unable to resist this assault. … Continue reading
Liberals sworn in as Victorians mourn
Published by Victoria Independent Media Centre, 4 June 2001 With a fiery coffin in tow, over a hundred Victorians publicly mourned the coronation of the Campbell Liberals on June 4. The day began with a funeral procession from the city’s courthouse to the provincial legislature. Participants staged a “die-in” on the steps of the People’s … Continue reading
Anti-NDP fearmongering
Letter to the Editor of the Victoria Times Colonist, 19 January 2000 I was both amused and repulsed by Les Leyne’s recent column, “NDP class clowns of 2000…” (January 18) Leyne pokes a colourful jab at a government and party in desperate need of renewal. He betrays, however, something more disturbing: his newspaper’s venomous, often … Continue reading
Keep the schools open, increase provincial funding
Letter to the Honourable Glen Clark, Premier of British Columbia, 13 July 1999 A report prepared for NDP Minister of Education Paul Ramsey and the Board of School Trustees of School District No. 61 (Greater Victoria) has called for $19.8 million dollars in spending cuts. These ‘savings’ are to be achieved through the routing of … Continue reading
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Public sewage treatment saves money
Letter to the Editor of the Victoria Times Colonist, 28 November 2007 Why is it that Halifax can build a public sewage treatment system for $400-million (one-third municipally funded) and the CRD considers a $1.2-billion, public-private system? The population of Greater Halifax was 372,000 in the last census, compared with 330,000 in Greater Victoria. Even … Continue reading »