Editor:
The planned closure of Shorncliffe and Totem Lodge in 2018 has focused our attention on the privatization of care homes, but this may be just the tip of the iceberg. Canada had over $5 trillion of debt the last time I looked (federal, provincial, P3 and household). B.C. alone had over $67 billion. Whoever takes power in the May provincial election must try to pay down this debt, generate more revenues, create a balanced budget and meet all of their election promises.
One way politicians around the world have endeavoured to square this circle is to sell off state assets to the private sector. Remember also that Canada has now signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU). The EU insists on a competitive market within all sectors of a trading partner’s health service. It may be that Ottawa has obtained concessions that protect our health services, but what has or has not been agreed will only be revealed to us plebs once the FTA is ratified.
Paul Rhodes, Sechelt
