07) BEWARE THE DROPPING SHOES

People's Voice Editorial

     In Stephen Harper's Canada, there's no point in waiting for the next shoe to drop. The real trick is to avoid the barrage of shoes flung by this far-right government.

     Just as Canadians are fighting back against more secret trade deals and another omnibus budget bill, the Tories have announced plans to privatise federally-funded social programs. Human Resources Minister Diane Finley has issued a "call for concepts", asking businesses, not‑for‑profits and the volunteer sector to provide so‑called "fundamentally new ideas." Finley says the government wants to tap into a "gold mine" of private‑sector funding. Yes, there's a gold mine here - for the corporations.

     The neoliberal concept is that the private sector will provide the capital for projects that the federal government currently operates (perhaps Employment Insurance?). It's simple, Minister Finley says - pick a corporation or a not-for-profit to do the work, and the government pays the bill, naturally including a return on investment. If the program's objectives are met, the government even adds a premium.

     There's no need to test drive this abomination, which has been tried here and in other countries, with predictable results. Taxpayer dollars become private profits. Program recipients are shafted, universal coverage goes out the door. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Not-for-profits which currently offer important services either get trampled in the mad rush for contracts, or turn into mega-bodies which act like corporations, complete with fat bonuses for their new CEOs.

     Contrary to some arguments, Harper's gang don't want to "downsize" the state. They do want to eliminate social programs while boosting the military, the police, the courts and the prison system. It's a short and slippery road to hell. We can't let it happen.