MSP privatization faces court challenge
The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union says it will go to court to try to block the province's new deal to contract out MSP and Pharmacare services to a U.S.-based company.
- FROM NOV. 4. 2004: MSP privatized despite privacy concerns
The provincial government has signed a 10-year, $324-million deal with U.S. based Maximus Incorporated a deal the BCGEU calls a "double-cross."
Last week, B.C.'s privacy commissioner had warned that private information could be vulnerable to American law enforcement under the USA Patriot Act.
- FROM OCT. 28, 2004: Patriot Act contravenes B.C. privacy laws: report
Health Minister Colin Hansen says that warning has been taken into account, and says significant safeguards were written into the contract to protect the privacy of British Columbians.
But BCGEU president George Heyman says his union will pursue a court challenge of the Maximus deal, because he says it still does not protect individual privacy.
"They have now entered into a contract putting at risk the personal information of British Columbians despite their assurance that they would not do so," he says.
Heyman says even if the government implemented every recommendation from the privacy commissioner, there still would be a risk that personal information could be vulnerable.
The B.C. Persons with AIDS Society is also speaking out againt the government move, calling it a betrayal of thousands of HIV-positive people.
BCPWA chair Paul Lewand says the health minister's claim that the contract exceeds privacy recommendations is simply wrong.