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Volume 4, Issue 1: October 3, 2005

In their recently released report Truth Serum: McGuinty Private P3 Hospital Plans, the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) challenges the provincial government’s claims that they are not moving down the road to increased privatization. In the past few months, the government has announced funding for five new hospital developments as “alternative financing and procurement” (AFP) projects which it insists are not the same as privatized P3 hospitals. The OHC report shows, however, this is just playing with words. A close look at all the accepted definitions of P3s, both within the industry and in the academic literature, shows they are.

In the report, the OHC also points out that the McGuinty government has already committed $3.3B in known costs to AFP projects, including the Ottawa and Brampton projects initiated by the Tories. According to the government’s public infrastructure renewal plan, ReNew Ontario, there are plans to redevelop or build 66 hospitals overall in the next five years.

The OHC is working with local health coalitions and other labour and community activists to respond to the government’s announcements of hospital developments. Community plebiscites are already being organized in North Bay, Hamilton and Woodstock. Local strategy meetings and public forums are being held in Mississauga, Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa, Belleville, Sarnia and Scarborough. Toronto continues its lawn sign campaign to get the message out.

OSSTF supports the important work being done by the OHC to protect public ownership and delivery of health care. We must also be concerned about government initiatives that will increase the privatization of public assets such as schools, universities and colleges, public transit, water and waste disposal which are referred to in its infrastructure renewal plan.

Let us not take thought for our separate interests, but let us help one another.
(OSSTF Motto)

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