Premier MacDonald of Nova Scotia pushing Private Healthcare

Premier Rodney MacDonald came under fire from critics yesterday for raising the specter of private healthcare in discussing the need for "strategic partnerships" with the private sector.

MacDonald made the remarks during his State of the Province address before the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. He told the crowd of about 400 business people that the province wants to push ahead with publicly funded, privately run clinics offering such services as cataract surgery and hip replacements.

Some people need to overcome their "paranoia" about the private sector and embrace the kinds of partnerships working in other provinces, he said, referring to assisted living facilities in British Columbia.

Ambulance service

He pointed to the success of public services delivered privately in Nova Scotia already, such as our world-renowned ambulance service. MacDonald said the province will only proceed if it's in the best interest of the public. It has learned from its "failed experiment" in P3 schools, but wants to explore public-private partnerships for other infrastructure.

MacDonald told reporters after his speech that the plan could mean introducing legislation this spring that would be similar to legislation in Manitoba and Alberta. Government would continue to respect the Canada Health Act, he added.

"I am not in favour of queue jumping by individuals, nor am I in favour of the people who waited too long for appropriate procedures and surgeries. So we need to be more innovative, and that means working more with the private sector."

The Nova Scotia Citizens' Health Care Network argues that allowing for-profit clinics to operate sets a dangerous precedent. Members claim the province is promoting a "flawed plan" that will lead to higher costs and jeopardize access to health-care services.

The opposition is critical

Both opposition parties slammed yesterday's announcement.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said the impact on human resources is his biggest concern.

"We have emergency rooms across this province that are not actually operating to capacity. Yet here we have a premier calling on the private sector to build a new one."

NDP Leader Darrell Dexter called MacDonald's speech "extraordinarily defensive" and said the ambulance example is a poor one because the service is delivered by a not-for-profit group.

In yesterday's address, MacDonald also restated his desire for a financial-services center in downtown Halifax, saying a lack of Class A building space is scaring business away.

The Daily News