Councillor’s blog raises issue of privatization

Bruce Walkinshaw - Penticton Western News Published: July 13, 2010 6:00 PM

Less than a week after CUPE organized a town-hall meeting urging city council not to privatize the Penticton Community Centre, one city councillor says that council would not be doing its job properly if it doesn’t investigate the option of contracting out operations at the building. Writing on his blog: Penticton Politics, Coun. Dan Albas said because the union raised examples of community facilities where privatization did not work, it seems appropriate for him to present examples where it does work. “We would (need to) look no further than the wildly successful H20 Centre in Kelowna,” wrote Albas, referring to the aquatic facility owned by the City of Kelowna but operated by the YMCA and YWCA. “I am not for a moment suggesting that privatization is the answer for our Penticton pool project, however, it does seem rather odd that CUPE would ignore one of the most successful pool projects in the entire province with the YMCA – YWCA privately operated H2O facility up in Kelowna,” wrote Albas. The facility was brought up at the town-hall meeting when it was pointed out that Kelowna has a second publicly owned, publicly operated pool. “Should getting the best value for our tax dollars be a consideration for community recreational facilities? Or by default should all community facilities be staffed by CUPE union workers regardless of the costs involved? Your input is welcome,” concluded the posting.

Albas said Tuesday that the whole purpose of starting Penticton Politics was to create a space where residents can share their opinions and ideas with him on a number of subjects. The privatization posting was meant to work as a catalyst for such discussions. “The thing is if you read what (CUPE) have posted, there is only talk about the pitfalls of privatization and none of the benefits,” he said. “Why would the City of Kelowna go with the YMCA ... if they didn’t find some value there? I am not saying there isn’t some value in the current (PCC) staff and I am definitely not saying there isn’t some value with the YMCA. I am just saying why not look at all the options? “In a proper conversation, we want to make sure, especially when it hits our public, what the benefits (of privatization) are to them. It should be fully fleshed out and all the facts should be out there.”

Albas said he agrees with the city’s $70,000 core services consultant report, released in March, which stated that the city is on an unsustainable fiscal path. “This is something we have to resolve,” he said, noting that every department at the city has had to deal with budget difficulties. “What I’m hoping for is that at the end of the day the city gets exactly what it needs and that is a top-notch facility with great services. Right now we just have to figure out what that looks like.”