Crown Corporations

[Smallc]

Now, this may sound strange coming from me, and I know there is some talk of this already, but, I think it's time to start moving on this once the financial climate improves enough.

First, AECL - they already want to do this, but they should get moving.

Second, CBC TV - I used to think that there was a reason for CBC TV, but really, it's just in competition with private enterprise, and for what? I'd say to keep CBC Radio, as it is the only thing in some places. I'd also though, say to make it financially sustainable.

Third, VIA Rail Canada - why do we still even own this? We sold Air Canada, now sell VIA and let it be on it's own. Also, don't impose unnecessary restrictions on it. For example, there are some rural train services that are necessary (Churchill, for one), but the Canadian really isn't a necessity and neither is the Ocean. If they don't make money, then drop them. Let VIA focus on its money making markets, Windsor - Quebec City, and the Niagara (well, that's actually AMTRAK) and Ottawa routes (maybe Sarnia too). Then maybe we could get trains that go faster than 160kms per hour between Toronto and Montreal. Maybe then Via could actually serve Edmonton - Calgary (why doesn't it now?)

oops.

Fourth, Canada Post - Let it go, and leave the restrictions on it that exist for Air Canada (make it still serve the entire country).

Fifth, the Mint - I was strongly against it, but then I realized, why not? What value is there to actualy owning it?

Sixth, Cape Breton - Why are there three Crown Corporations dedicated to this place? I mean, is that really necessary? Couldn't they do combined in some way?

Add on some of your own.

Edited December 28, 2010 by Smallc

[Michael Hardner]

How about Service Canada ?

[Smallc]

How about Service Canada ?

That would have to be looked at I think, as it isn't really a Crown Corporation, but part of the government. That said though, maybe it is time to start contracting out services, but only IF it can be done for less, not just for the sake of privatization.

Let me just say I'm not proposing this in the name of lower taxes either. I want this so that many can be diverted to more important projects (though a couple of the agencies I mentioned make money, they would still pay taxes and the government wouldn't be operating where it shouldn't really be. The provinces could eventually move to that too (though I think things like Manitoba Hydro probably couldn't be privatized for a very long time as they wound impact provincial budgets too significantly).

[Shwa]

That would have to be looked at I think, as it isn't really a Crown Corporation, but part of the government. That said though, maybe it is time to start contracting out services, but only IF it can be done for less, not just for the sake of privatization.

Let me just say I'm not proposing this in the name of lower taxes either. I want this so that many can be diverted to more important projects (though a couple of the agencies I mentioned make money, they would still pay taxes and the government wouldn't be operating where it shouldn't really be. The provinces could eventually move to that too (though I think things like Manitoba Hydro probably couldn't be privatized for a very long time as they wound impact provincial budgets too significantly).

Like what "more important projects" and who gets to decide it is "more impotant?" I mean, why not have Crown Corporations and "more important projects too?"

Now, of all the Crown Corporations above, the ones you would like to sell off, which ones actually bring revenue into the government?

[dre]

I disagree.

In fact Id put a moratorium on the Government flogging public assets until we get our books in order, because its just too tempting for government to flog assets to manipulate their balance sheets, and they will make decisions that dont make sense in the long term.

An example of this is the attempt to sell the pensylvania turnpike to wealthy Arabs, for a fraction of its value to shore up government balance sheets in the short term

"I was in a meeting where a bunch of American investment bankers were trying to sell us the Pennsylvania Turnpike," he said. "They even had a slide show. They were showing these Arabs what a nice highway we had for sale, what the toll booths looked like . . ."

The Legislature killed that deal...

But the parking meters in Nashville were successfully sold to wealthy foreign investors... for a fraction of what they would have made the city over the long term.

Edited December 28, 2010 by dre

[Smallc]

Like what "more important projects" and who gets to decide it is "more impotant?" I mean, why not have Crown Corporations and "more important projects too?"

Oh I don't know, perhaps transfer payments, OAS, defence...a multitude of other thing.

Now, of all the Crown Corporations above, the ones you would like to sell off, which ones actually bring revenue into the government?

I already said that - Canada Post, and the Royal Canadian Mint. VIA on the other hand uses a fair amount of money as does CBC TV.

[Smallc]

But the parking meters in Nashville were successfully sold to wealthy foreign investors... for a fraction of what they would have made the city over the long term.

I'm not talking about bad deals. I'm talking about divesting of unnecessary or money losing assets.

[M.Dancer]

Third, VIA Rail Canada - why do we still even own this?

No one would buy it. It doesn't own the tracks so all that can be sold is the brand (VIA) and the rolling stock. Anyone whothought creating a new line would be profitable would have done so already.

Fourth, Canada Post - Let it go, and leave the restrictions on it that exist for Air Canada (make it still serve the entire country).

A better solution is to allow the private sector to compete against CP without restrictions. It is currently illegal to deliver a letter for less than CP.

Edited December 28, 2010 by M.Dancer

[Smallc]

No one would buy it. It doesn't own the tracks so all that can be sold is the brand (VIA) and the rolling stock. Anyone whothought creating a new line would be profitable would have done so already.

Okay then, just close it and open up the market to competition (outside of necessary areas). I disagree though, I think that sometimes a brand and to start the current rolling stock are enough.

As for Canada post, it needs to serve the entire country, because it's the only thing in many areas.

Edited December 28, 2010 by Smallc

[M.Dancer]

Okay then, just close it and open up the market to competition (outside of necessary areas). I disagree though, I think that sometimes a brand and to start the current rolling stock are enough.

As for Canada post, it needs to serve the entire country, because it's the only thing in many areas.

VIA as a brand has no value....

[dre]

I'm not talking about bad deals. I'm talking about divesting of unnecessary or money losing assets.

I dont trust them to make good deals.

I like having a public broadcaster as well, and I find that outlets like the CBC, BBC, and PBS are of consistantly higher quality than their private counterparts, unless you need to know stuff about what hollywood celebrity recently got a boob-job.

[Smallc]

VIA as a brand has no value....

It does if you only operate the Windsor - Quebec corridor. That area would be very profitable on it's own (perhaps the government could keep the necessary Churchill and the couple of Quebec routes that are necessary). Government could also support the initial development of high speed rail and let companies bid on the operation.

[Smallc]

I dont trust them to make good deals.

Well, we don't need to keep most of these things, and some of them are better off gone.

I like having a public broadcaster as well, and I find that outlets like the CBC, BBC, and PBS are of consistantly higher quality than their private counterparts, unless you need to know stuff about what hollywood celebrity recently got a boob-job.

I used to think that too, but I see little value to CBC TV.

[M.Dancer]

It does if you only operate the Windsor - Quebec corridor. That area would be very profitable on it's own

Is it now? I have been on that line 4 times in the last 10 years...the cars were almost empty. I know they are busy during holidays and weekends....

Government could also support the initial development of high speed rail and let companies bid on the operation.

As long as they don't own there tracks hi speed is impossible.

[Moonbox]

I'd agree with getting rid of anything except Canada Post and AECL - maybe even AECL if I knew more about it lol.

[Topaz]

Don't you think it should be more on the people behind the corporations? Perhaps if they were people running it that knew more what they were doing. Just look at the Finance Minster . He was educated as a lawyer not a financial wiz, which he isn't, and it shows! maybe we should change the way the Federal government is run, if we want to have a good running country. How about getting rid of the parties and say ok, you want to be PM or CEO, tell us what experience you have and allow 3 people to run per minstry. The government then would be run like a corporation and the voters are the shareholders and can kick out they want and can set wages and pensions. I like to see more power to the people and not so much in the PMO.

[Smallc]

As long as they don't own there tracks hi speed is impossible.

Who is stopping them from building tracks? Or the government from helping to build tracks? If the market is opened up, there is enough money to be made in high speed or near high speed rail. As of now, with the third track added in some places, it takes less time to go on a train from Montreal to Toronto than it does to drive. I think if more people knew that the service would do even better.

Edited December 28, 2010 by Smallc

[Smallc]

I'd agree with getting rid of anything except Canada Post and AECL - maybe even AECL if I knew more about it lol.

Well, AECL is going, but Canada Post probably isn't. Canada post could go with a similar arrangement to Air Canada. It would compete with couriers, but it would have to provide service to areas that the others don't.

[Smallc]

Who is stopping them from building tracks? Or the government from helping to build tracks? If the market is opened up, there is enough money to be made in high speed or near high speed rail. As of now, with the third track added in some places, it takes less time to go on a train from Montreal to Toronto than it does to drive. I think if more people knew that the service would do even better.

Alternatively, keep VIA, make it better (by dropping unnecessary routes, adding Calgary Edmonton service at the same speed [with improvements] as the Montreal - Toronto route), and sell it then.

Edited December 28, 2010 by Smallc

[Battletoads]

Seems it usually ends up costing Canadians more when businesses go from public to private.

[M.Dancer]

Who is stopping them from building tracks?

The cost of expropriating the land?

[M.Dancer]

Seems it usually ends up costing Canadians more when businesses go from public to private.

Seems to me you are wrong.

How much more does Potash cost? Would it cost any less if it was a mismanaged crown? Was Air Canada a better managed company when it was a crown? How about CN?

[M.Dancer]

Don't you think it should be more on the people behind the corporations? Perhaps if they were people running it that knew more what they were doing. Just look at the Finance Minster . He was educated as a lawyer not a financial wiz, which he isn't, and it shows! maybe we should change the way the Federal government is run, if we want to have a good running country. How about getting rid of the parties and say ok, you want to be PM or CEO, tell us what experience you have and allow 3 people to run per minstry. The government then would be run like a corporation and the voters are the shareholders and can kick out they want and can set wages and pensions. I like to see more power to the people and not so much in the PMO.

On December 28th, Topaz officially came out in favour of Fascism...

[Smallc]

The cost of expropriating the land?

Well, either way, the government is going to end up paying for it. I guess my biggest complaint is that VIA is a money losing inefficient entity that needs fixing.

[M.Dancer]

Well, either way, the government is going to end up paying for it. I guess my biggest complaint is that VIA is a money losing inefficient entity that needs fixing.

Of course it is....they think they are competing against air travel and decided that air canada is their competition...unfortunately they try to match air canada's service instead of being better than them. They went after the business travellor by touting the 3:59 minute travel time between Toronto and Montreal....but because they don't own the lines they more often than not sit on the side while the 200 car CN train gets priority...

The plain fact that it costs twice as much to travel across canada by train than by plane says it all...