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We all rely on our highways crews to keep our roadways safe, especially in winter.

Increasingly, highway maintenance and repair work on trucks and graders is being contracted out to private companies. Privatizing highway maintenance and equipment repair will put the safety of the travelling public at risk. It will also cost more and lead to less efficient service.

Public safety at risk

If the Brad Wall government hands highway maintenance work to private, for-profit contractors, the safety of the travelling public will be put at risk. That's a reasonable conclusion based on the experience in British Columbia, where road and bridge maintenance has been privatized.

Unsafe vehicles and equipment

A freedom of information request by a Kamloops journalist revealed that many of the vehicles and equipment that private contractors had on the road presented a danger to the public.

Faulty brake systems, tires ready to blow out, and unsafe loads put families at risk each time they travel the province's highways. A total of 427 safety violations were recorded by inspectors between 2007 and 2008. Many of the safety infractions were so serious that the trucks and trailers were immediately ordered off the road.

Communities raise concerns

Communities in B.C. are concerned about the deteriorating conditions of their highways since privatization.

Local governments have formally expressed their concerns, and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities passed a resolution calling on the government to more closely audit road and bridge maintenance.

No public oversight

At present, private companies in B.C., whose overriding concern is their bottom line, are self-governing and self-regulating. This lack of public oversight can have disastrous results for families and communities.

Contracting out costs more

Ministry of Highways mechanics have for years provided high quality workmanship at reasonable costs. The move to have repair work done by businesses whose goal is to make a profit will drive up costs.

When private companies are repairing vehicles, there is no guarantee that they will make highways equipment their priority. So snow plows might sit in a private garage waiting for repair - making it tough for road crews to keep up with the demands of winter weather in Saskatchewan.

Higher costs for repair will lead to cuts in road maintenance - making it difficult for snow plow operators and road maintenance work crews to get the job done.

Learn more about SGEU's Anti-Privatization Campaign at www.ifyoulovesaskatchewan.ca and join the 500+ people who have already "given their heart" to Saskatchewan.

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[coastaldrift]

Yeah! Just look at what a horrible job privatized companies do of maintaining the highways in Alberta and BC! Advanced repair and paving techniques, state-of-the-art equipment, efficient monitoring, dedication to quality, 10% (BC) to 25-35% (AB) SAVINGS to government, nationally renowned highway quality...

Oh wait.

Nope. SGEU, you don't even speak for your own members, nevermind the entire province!

[evilsaskndp]

Private sector always does a better job than unionized overpaid greedy government workers. Privatize away, Mr. Wall.