BC will privatize welfare services in Interior.KAMLOOPS -- The British Columbia British Columbia, province (2001 pop. 3,907,738), 366,255 sq mi (948,600 sq km), including 6,976 sq mi (18,068 sq km) of water surface, W Canada. Geography government, led by Gordon Campbell
Gordon Muir Campbell , is considering bids from private companies who were invited to compete for contracts to provide welfare services in the BC Interior. The companies to be selected in July will be responsible for processing social assistance claims, identifying fraud, and transmitting confidential information Noun 1. confidential information - an indication of potential opportunity; "he got a tip on the stock market"; "a good lead for a job" steer, tip, wind, hint, lead to government. They will be able to subcontract their operations to others in rural communities. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. NDP NDP New Democratic Party (Canada) NDP National Development Plan (Republic of Ireland) NDP National Development Plan NDP National Democratic Party (Barbados) Leader Carole James, social assistance can be delivered by private operators in multi-use offices whose main line of business has nothing to do with welfare. The contractor will also be allowed to sub-contract services, with no requirement to demonstrate their qualifications. "British Columbians applying for and receiving, social assistance will put their personal financial information in the hands of private contractors and those they sub-contract to. This is not acceptable. Both in combating fraud, ensuring the timely delivery of services, and respecting the dignity of those on social assistance, this privatization privatization: see nationalization. privatization Transfer of government services or assets to the private sector. State-owned assets may be sold to private owners, or statutory restrictions on competition between privately and publicly owned scheme will fail. "Under Mr. Campbell's scheme, there is nothing to stop social assistance from being delivered at the local grocery store. That's a terrible way to treat laid-off forestry workers, single-mothers, and others who need help to put food on the table." The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union has asked the provincial privacy commissioner to investigate the plan. The program is part of a larger government plan to cut government costs by privatizing government services in rural areas. |
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