Sunday 1 July 2012

Terence Corcoran: The F-35 of infrastructure | FP Comment | Financial Post

Very interesting discussion. When Canada builds a bridge to America it will be government owned rather than the existing privately owned bridge linking Canada and America.

Many people would be surprised that private concerns dominate such a key network stretch irregardless of whether it makes money!

If you comment in favour of government ownership of the new bridge be prepared to be called socialist or much worse, even of robbing Alberta of its money earned by selling tainted oil.

John Collinson appears to comment against any pro-government effort to build a new bridge.

If you live near Detroit, you will be aware of the immense amount of paid advertising against the building of a new bridge. It would seem that to engage in opening up a new artery into Detroit and Michigan would some how impoverish Detroit!

Take a moment to realize that there is already a bridge into Detroit that is privately owned. The picture then drops into place! Who gains if no new bridge is built. Dah! Could it be the existing owners of the existing bridge that is in private hands.

Perhaps, this is a case book example of why it is wrong for the future of key infrastructure protects to be decided by commercial interests. You don't have to be a socialist to realize that commerce as a whole can be held to ransome!

http://opinion.financialpost.com/2012/06/29/terence-corcoran-the-f-35-of-infrastructure/
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