CUPE Nova Scotia firmly believes that the so-called ?public-private partnership? (P3) being used for the QEII hospitals is not in the best interest of taxpayers, workers, our families or our communities. On the contrary, we can count on public financing to be accountable, transparent, locally-controlled and a wise investment of tax dollars.
Halifax?s existing QEII complex will be replaced by the new QEII Health Sciences Centre. Photo by Citobun via Wikimedia Commons.
?Privatizing the hospital redevelopment will keep Nova Scotians in the dark about the true costs and consequences of the deal. Key details of P3s are not available under freedom of information legislation,? says McFadgen. ?We have the right to know.?
?P3s are like using a credit card to pay for our public services,? says CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen. ?Over and over, the Liberal government keeps dragging us into more debt by using these disastrous deals. While consultants and corporations make out like bandits in these deals, we end up on the hook, paying much higher interest rates to finance these projects.? ?Years later, when they finally realize their mistakes, our hospitals end up cutting back on the number of beds, staff and any other corner they think they can cut, so the ?partners? can make a profit,? says McFadgen. ?Premier McNeil needs to listen. There?s no room for profit in our public health care.?
Here are some of CUPE?s main concerns with P3s:

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