For Sale: Ontario roads, transit:

The Ontario government plans to allow private ownership of most infrastructure projects, including highways and transit systems, as the cash-strapped province searches for new financing, Infrastructure Minister David Caplan said today. Under the plan, only schools, hospitals and water systems would remain firmly in public hands. "We intend to vigorously pursue opportunities to partner with the private sector in the delivery and financing of public infrastructure," Caplan told the Toronto Board of Trade... Caplan later told reporters that the government would be prepared to "at least entertain" private ownership of all projects outside of the "core services" of hospitals, schools and water. The deficit-plagued government cannot afford to build everything with its own money as governments used to do, and will impose strict controls in contracts with any private firms to protect taxpayers' from cost overruns, Caplan said. "We're bringing different techniques than the traditional Crown-constructed public works model that has got us into the position where we are today," he said.

Can you imagine -- can you imagine -- the kerfuffle if the Tories had gone as far as this? But of course the Tories didn't go even half as far, and took twice the stick -- from the Liberals, as it happens. Imagine that. CASH-STRAPPED: Meanwhile, this interesting study appears from the Fraser Institute:

Entitled "Buying Health Change? The 2005 Survey of High Earner Pay in Ontario’s Hospitals", this report shows that "Ontario hospital payrolls for high earners- those making at least $100,000- rose more than 18 percent last year. At the same time, hospital deficits grew to $600 million, staff positions have been eliminated, and waiting times between specialist appointment and hospital treatment increased by 15 percent. The study finds no statistical relationship between pay increases and nine measures of hospital performance. It appears that the extra pay did not buy better health care."

Gosh, what a surprise. Feds pump billions into health care in the name of "buying change." Salaries for providers rise. Nothing else changes. Where have I seen this picture before?