Concern About Private / Public Projects

The following comment was received from Greg in reply to yesterday’s Stave Lake Water Project – Media Release post.

Greg writes, “My recent first hand experience with BC P3s convinces me that they are not magic bullets for solving govt budget problems. Corporations have an obligation to contracts and finances. Governments have a fiduciary duty to the citizens they serve. These focuses are very different.

To propose that a private corporation can take a profit in addition to providing a service and somehow do all this for less money is absurd.

In my experience most civil servants are efficient and dedicated to the well being of the taxpayer. Distracting them with contract negotiations and liaison with third parties distracts them from providing service and monitoring service delivery.

Multinational corporations hire skilled contract lawyers. To speculate that a small local government could easily match the cunning and skill these corporations bring is naive.

P3s are not the only option and not to be entered into lightly.

Choose wisely!” Greg

My reply to Greg, which is posted on the blog is as follows;

“I appreciate and agree with many of your concerns about private/public projects. However, my experience has been less one-sided. It is my view that there are times when a private Corporation can make a profit and provide a better service. Private enterprise has to be innovative and cost-effective in order to stay in business. Government does not operate by the same principles and typically doesn’t worry about going broke. There are some services that City employees do not handle as well as competitive businesses. City employees cannot be expected to be all things to all people. Of course, there are some services, such as policing and fire protection, that must be strictly controlled by the City, no matter the economics.

As far as the legal assistance retained by the City is concerned, it is my view that appropriate and cost effective expertise must be secured to protect the interests of taxpayers. That was my experience in business and, if I am elected, I will take the same approach to obtaining the right advice and representation.

Thank you for your interest in our City and its government.”

Henry Braun for Council