Cost to privatize Manitoba's wildfire-fighting services under scrutiny

The Opposition NDPis casting doubt on the province's claim it will savemoneyby handingoverforest firefighting servicesto the private sector.

Leader Wab Kinewsaid theprovince entered into a 10-year, $170-million contract with Babcock, the international aerial emergency services business taking over the province's wildfire-fighting initiatives, according to the firm's website.

The approximate$17 million annual payment from the province's pocketbookexceeds, Kinew said, the $14.8 million spent on wildfire suppression efforts in 2017-18, citing the annual report from ManitobaSustainable Development.

"Which is the greater number there?" Kinewjokingly askedduring question period on Monday.

$1M saved yearly, provincesays

The province, however, maintains privatization will save the province a minimum$1 million a year, as it saidlast week while announcing the new deal.

The status quo wouldcost the province $19.4 million annually, which doesn't include the price tag for a new hangar and Bird Dogaircraft, among other expenditures.

The budget line in the annual report simply doesn't account for every dollar spent on the service, the province said in explaining the discrepancy.

"Our government made clear from the beginning that this would only go to tender if the present standard was met and if costs were lower than what is currently being offered," said a statement attributed to infrastructure minister Ron Schuler. "We can say that both of those requirements were met."

$16.8 million was budgeted for 2017-18 firefighting efforts; Sustainable Development cited vacancies and reduced Air Services costs, though it was also a moderate year for fires.

For transparency, Kinew said the province should simply release the terms of the contract.

"Ifthere's something else at work here, fine, letManitobansknow,"Kinewsaid.

The province has chosen to keep the documentunder wraps until it makes a decision on a request to proposals that could privatize Lifeflightair ambulance and general transport services.

Under the terms that have been revealed,thegovernment isretaining ownership ofseven active water bombers and leasing them to BabcockCanada, which will operate them.

The fleet will be supported by three Babcock Twin Commander aircraft, the company said in a news release.

52 jobs hangin the air

The new arrangementputs52 jobs at risk, said theManitoba Government and General Employees' Union, though the government is under the impression the company wants to hire back someprovincial staff, Schuler said last week.

The changes will take effect in the spring.

AccessingBabcock's planes will save the province hundreds of millions by eliminating the need to replace the provincial fleet, Schuler said.

Liberal Leader DougaldLamont is concerned the province's firefighting assets will be spread thin in thenew model.

"It's just asideological to believe the private sector can always do things better as it is to think the public sector can always do things better," he said, "When it comes to safety andemergency services, we have to have the resources there."

The provincial government said last weekthe aircraft would prioritize the needs of Manitoba first.