Contract with Maximus must end -- Cubberley

VICTORIA - After seven months of poor service and growing public frustration, the Minister of Health needs to terminate the government's contract with Maximus Inc., Opposition Health Critic David Cubberley said today.
"Ever since Maximus took over the contract to provide MSP services in April it has failed to meet service targets," said Cubberley."And now, despite continual failures, Maximus has announced they will lay off staff by the New Year."

"Clearly Maximus has no commitment to serving the people of this province, and the Minister should terminate the contract," said Cubberley.

Maximus Inc. took over the contract to provide MSP and Pharmacare information services in April 2005. Fines have been levied against the company every month since April for failure to meet contract standards. The amounts of the fines have been kept confidential by the Minister of Health.

Yesterday Maximus announced to its shareholders that the company had losses of $3.5 million and as a result would be laying off staff at its B.C. operation.

"The company has never meet service levels. Just a few months ago it hired more staff in order to address the growing backlog - now they are going to fire them? This makes no sense," said Cubberley.

Cubberley said that when this experiment in privatization started with Maximus, it was with the Minister's assurances that service would improve.

"We can see that this contract has failed," said Cubberley."And it shows how Gordon Campbell's privatization agenda is not working for ordinary people."

"The Minister of Health has a responsibility to protect the public's interest, and it is very clear that Maximus is not operating for the public's interest," said Cubberley."Seven months of public frustration is enough. It is time for the Minister to terminate the contract."

Cubberley said that British Columbians have had enough of"Circus Maximus, Service Minimus".