Regina public school voters demand more transparency and answers on P3 schools.

In a packed school gym on January 28, 2014, CUPE members and community activists successfully passed two resolutions at the annual meeting of the Regina Public School Board demanding more transparency and answers surrounding the proposed plan to fund the construction of three new schools in Regina using Public Private Partnership (P3) privatization schemes. Recently, the provincial government announced their controversial plan to build a total of nine new joint public/catholic schools using P3s.

The first motion passed by voters called for more answers from the government on a list of questions and bound the board to hold a special meeting to inform the public on the true costs and details within the next two months. Speaking eloquently in support of the motion, CUPE Saskatchewan President Tom Graham referred to the failed record of P3 school experiments across Canada that prove to cost more, reduce community access, and put public ownership and control at risk.

Voters also passed a second resolution that demanded the school board offer public consultation at every step of discussions concerning the controversial plan to enter into P3 privatization schemes instead of using traditional public financing.

 
Regina’s public school voters join with the voters in Saskatoon’s public school board in passing motions to take a closer look at P3 privatization schemes for schools.

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