Province Pulls Plug on P3s
Government makes the right call in building 19 new schools without for-profit partners
Edmonton — Nineteen new schools in Alberta will be built through traditional financing models.
Although the schools had been previously been announced last year as Private-Public-Partnership (P3) ventures, the government did not receive any competitive bids.
"Rather than funneling taxpayer money into corporate pockets, the Hancock Government had the courage to abandon the P3 model," Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan said. "This is encouraging. It's a good decision for Albertans, and I hope they continue to move away from the P3 model."
Alberta Infrastructure Minister Wayne Drysdale left the door open for the use of the P3 scheme in the future, suggesting that while it hadn't made sense in this instance, they would return to it. The Alberta Federation of Labour encourages the government to abandon the P3 model permanently.
"Schools need to be built in the way that is best for students," McGowan said. "When a private corporation is involved, their motivation is to make profit, and decisions about how the school is built will reflect that. P3s are not just more expensive, they're worse for Alberta's kids."
MEDIA CONTACT:
Olav Rokne, Communications Director, Alberta Federation of Labour, 780.218.4351 (cell)
or via email - [email protected]
Advisory: Albertans reject cuts say union leaders
Nurses, teachers, health sciences professionals, and public employees urge government to listen to majority of Albertans
Edmonton - Labour leaders are standing up for the majority of Albertans who do not want to see public services cut on March 7.
At a joint press conference on Monday, March 4, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Edmonton, the presidents of all five public sector unions and the Alberta Federation of Labour will urge Alison Redford to listen to Albertans, most of whom want their public services protected.
When:
10 AM, March 4, 2013
Where:
River Valley Room, Lobby Level
Crowne Plaza Chateau Lacombe Hotel
10111 Bellamy Hill Rd NW, Edmonton
Who:
Canadian Union of Public Employees, Alberta President Marle Roberts
United Nurses of Alberta, President Heather Smith
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, President Guy Smith
Health Sciences Association of Alberta, President Elisabeth Ballermann
Alberta Teachers' Association, Vice President Mark Ramsankar
Alberta Federation of Labour, President Gil McGowan
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Olav Rokne, AFL Communications Director at 780-289-6528 (cell) or via email [email protected].