Latest news with #Brookfields
Edmonton Journal
09-07-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Tasha Kheiriddin: A Carney pipeline means an angry Liberal base
Article content For months, Prime Minister Mark Carney has spoken about making Canada an energy superpower. He said it on the campaign trail, mentioned it again in an interview with CTV news in May, and dropped it again last weekend at the Calgary Stampede. While he usually inserts the qualifier of 'both clean and conventional energy,' in an interview Saturday he stated that it's 'highly, highly likely' that at least one oil pipeline will make the government's list of national strategic infrastructure projects. Article content Article content Those words aren't a dog whistle — they're a bugle call to western premiers, notably Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. At a press conference with Ontario Premier Doug Ford this week, Smith waxed enthusiastic about a 'grand bargain' involving pipelines and the Pathways Alliance, a group of energy producers promoting carbon capture as a means of 'decarbonizing' fossil fuel production. The two premiers agreed to study the construction of a pipeline to the East and a rail line to the West, to send Alberta oil to eastern Canada and critical minerals from Ontario's Ring of Fire to western ports. Article content Article content Those national infrastructure projects appear to be chugging along, full steam ahead. But they still need the federal government on board — and despite his talk, Carney still must walk the walk. And that may not be as easy as some may hope. Article content First, Carney has a very verdant past. He is a longtime climate finance evangelist, promoting green energy projects as chair of Brookfields, authoring a book on 'value(s),' arguing for ESG investment frameworks, and serving as the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance. Will he turn his back on those beliefs — or find a way to reconcile them with pro-development positions? Article content Article content Second, the Liberal Party's green flank is likely to see red. Former and current environment ministers Steven Guilbault and Julie Dabrusin are part of the anti-oil crowd, as are many rank and file members of the party in urban Ontario, Quebec, and B.C. Until now, they called the tune: under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Liberals were the party of carbon taxes, not carbon capture, of emissions caps, not Energy East. Article content Third, there are potential roadblocks that are out of Carney's control. Opposition is brewing among environmental and indigenous groups to his recently passed Bill C-5, the 'One Canadian Economy Act,' which promises to streamline approval for resource projects. Canada has seen civil disobedience before, when members of the Wet'suwet'en band blocked railways in early 2020 to protest pipeline construction: a sequel could be coming to a rail line near you, and it's not clear how Carney would respond.
Calgary Herald
08-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Tasha Kheiriddin: A Carney pipeline means an angry Liberal base
Article content For months, Prime Minister Mark Carney has spoken about making Canada an energy superpower. He said it on the campaign trail, mentioned it again in an interview with CTV news in May, and dropped it again last weekend at the Calgary Stampede. While he usually inserts the qualifier of 'both clean and conventional energy,' in an interview Saturday he stated that it's 'highly, highly likely' that at least one oil pipeline will make the government's list of national strategic infrastructure projects. Article content Article content Those words aren't a dog whistle — they're a bugle call to western premiers, notably Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. At a press conference with Ontario Premier Doug Ford this week, Smith waxed enthusiastic about a 'grand bargain' involving pipelines and the Pathways Alliance, a group of energy producers promoting carbon capture as a means of 'decarbonizing' fossil fuel production. The two premiers agreed to study the construction of a pipeline to the East and a rail line to the West, to send Alberta oil to eastern Canada and critical minerals from Ontario's Ring of Fire to western ports. Article content Article content Article content Those national infrastructure projects appear to be chugging along, full steam ahead. But they still need the federal government on board — and despite his talk, Carney still must walk the walk. And that may not be as easy as some may hope. Article content First, Carney has a very verdant past. He is a longtime climate finance evangelist, promoting green energy projects as chair of Brookfields, authoring a book on 'value(s),' arguing for ESG investment frameworks, and serving as the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance. Will he turn his back on those beliefs — or find a way to reconcile them with pro-development positions? Article content Second, the Liberal Party's green flank is likely to see red. Former and current environment ministers Steven Guilbault and Julie Dabrusin are part of the anti-oil crowd, as are many rank and file members of the party in urban Ontario, Quebec, and B.C. Until now, they called the tune: under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Liberals were the party of carbon taxes, not carbon capture, of emissions caps, not Energy East. Article content Third, there are potential roadblocks that are out of Carney's control. Opposition is brewing among environmental and indigenous groups to his recently passed Bill C-5, the 'One Canadian Economy Act,' which promises to streamline approval for resource projects. Canada has seen civil disobedience before, when members of the Wet'suwet'en band blocked railways in early 2020 to protest pipeline construction: a sequel could be coming to a rail line near you, and it's not clear how Carney would respond.
The Advertiser
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Healthcare provider's collapse prompts reform demands
The viability of private healthcare is under the microscope following the collapse of a major hospital operator, with one union casting doubt on private equity management in the sector. Healthscope, which operates 37 hospitals across every state and territory, has vowed it will be business as usual for patients and staff after entering receivership. Unions called on governments to reassess the sustainability of the health system, including how public healthcare is funded and delivered within the private sector. "We don't want to see a sector governed by private equity firms like we have seen with Brookfields coming in and essentially leaving Healthscope in shatters," Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Victoria branch acting secretary Maddy Harradence told AAP. "We know the private sector plays a really important piece in the broader healthcare system but we need them to be functioning, regulated and we need them to ensure a fair share of profits go back into the private hospital sector." The provider, owned by North American private equity firm Brookfield, said while the parent entity had entered receivership, the operational business - which runs the hospitals - had not. Anthony Scott, a professor of health economics at Monash University, says it is difficult to remain profitable in the private health sector due to workforce shortages, the cost of living and rising supply costs. "It's one of those things where it's been very hard to maintain its profits over time," he told AAP. Prof Scott said it would be important to assess how private hospitals are funded moving forward, along with managing contracts with private health insurers. The federal government confirmed on Monday that taxpayers would not be footing the bill for the healthcare provider. Health Minister Mark Butler said the provider would be a "very different beast going forward in terms of the ownership". Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the state needed a strong private health system to complement the public system. "I am confident that we will be able to meet the needs of all Victorians and that there is simply, at this point, no need to be concerned," she told reporters at state parliament on Tuesday. In 2022 the Victorian government took over two Healthscope facilities, Frankston Private and Bellbird Private Hospital, to assist with the increased pandemic demand for healthcare and elective surgery services. Ms Thomas said the state government had been watching the ailing company for some time. Healthscope operates the Northern Beaches Hospital in Sydney, Hobart Private Hospital, Darwin Private Hospital and Knox Private Hospital in Melbourne. The viability of private healthcare is under the microscope following the collapse of a major hospital operator, with one union casting doubt on private equity management in the sector. Healthscope, which operates 37 hospitals across every state and territory, has vowed it will be business as usual for patients and staff after entering receivership. Unions called on governments to reassess the sustainability of the health system, including how public healthcare is funded and delivered within the private sector. "We don't want to see a sector governed by private equity firms like we have seen with Brookfields coming in and essentially leaving Healthscope in shatters," Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Victoria branch acting secretary Maddy Harradence told AAP. "We know the private sector plays a really important piece in the broader healthcare system but we need them to be functioning, regulated and we need them to ensure a fair share of profits go back into the private hospital sector." The provider, owned by North American private equity firm Brookfield, said while the parent entity had entered receivership, the operational business - which runs the hospitals - had not. Anthony Scott, a professor of health economics at Monash University, says it is difficult to remain profitable in the private health sector due to workforce shortages, the cost of living and rising supply costs. "It's one of those things where it's been very hard to maintain its profits over time," he told AAP. Prof Scott said it would be important to assess how private hospitals are funded moving forward, along with managing contracts with private health insurers. The federal government confirmed on Monday that taxpayers would not be footing the bill for the healthcare provider. Health Minister Mark Butler said the provider would be a "very different beast going forward in terms of the ownership". Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the state needed a strong private health system to complement the public system. "I am confident that we will be able to meet the needs of all Victorians and that there is simply, at this point, no need to be concerned," she told reporters at state parliament on Tuesday. In 2022 the Victorian government took over two Healthscope facilities, Frankston Private and Bellbird Private Hospital, to assist with the increased pandemic demand for healthcare and elective surgery services. Ms Thomas said the state government had been watching the ailing company for some time. Healthscope operates the Northern Beaches Hospital in Sydney, Hobart Private Hospital, Darwin Private Hospital and Knox Private Hospital in Melbourne. The viability of private healthcare is under the microscope following the collapse of a major hospital operator, with one union casting doubt on private equity management in the sector. Healthscope, which operates 37 hospitals across every state and territory, has vowed it will be business as usual for patients and staff after entering receivership. Unions called on governments to reassess the sustainability of the health system, including how public healthcare is funded and delivered within the private sector. "We don't want to see a sector governed by private equity firms like we have seen with Brookfields coming in and essentially leaving Healthscope in shatters," Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Victoria branch acting secretary Maddy Harradence told AAP. "We know the private sector plays a really important piece in the broader healthcare system but we need them to be functioning, regulated and we need them to ensure a fair share of profits go back into the private hospital sector." The provider, owned by North American private equity firm Brookfield, said while the parent entity had entered receivership, the operational business - which runs the hospitals - had not. Anthony Scott, a professor of health economics at Monash University, says it is difficult to remain profitable in the private health sector due to workforce shortages, the cost of living and rising supply costs. "It's one of those things where it's been very hard to maintain its profits over time," he told AAP. Prof Scott said it would be important to assess how private hospitals are funded moving forward, along with managing contracts with private health insurers. The federal government confirmed on Monday that taxpayers would not be footing the bill for the healthcare provider. Health Minister Mark Butler said the provider would be a "very different beast going forward in terms of the ownership". Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the state needed a strong private health system to complement the public system. "I am confident that we will be able to meet the needs of all Victorians and that there is simply, at this point, no need to be concerned," she told reporters at state parliament on Tuesday. In 2022 the Victorian government took over two Healthscope facilities, Frankston Private and Bellbird Private Hospital, to assist with the increased pandemic demand for healthcare and elective surgery services. Ms Thomas said the state government had been watching the ailing company for some time. Healthscope operates the Northern Beaches Hospital in Sydney, Hobart Private Hospital, Darwin Private Hospital and Knox Private Hospital in Melbourne. The viability of private healthcare is under the microscope following the collapse of a major hospital operator, with one union casting doubt on private equity management in the sector. Healthscope, which operates 37 hospitals across every state and territory, has vowed it will be business as usual for patients and staff after entering receivership. Unions called on governments to reassess the sustainability of the health system, including how public healthcare is funded and delivered within the private sector. "We don't want to see a sector governed by private equity firms like we have seen with Brookfields coming in and essentially leaving Healthscope in shatters," Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Victoria branch acting secretary Maddy Harradence told AAP. "We know the private sector plays a really important piece in the broader healthcare system but we need them to be functioning, regulated and we need them to ensure a fair share of profits go back into the private hospital sector." The provider, owned by North American private equity firm Brookfield, said while the parent entity had entered receivership, the operational business - which runs the hospitals - had not. Anthony Scott, a professor of health economics at Monash University, says it is difficult to remain profitable in the private health sector due to workforce shortages, the cost of living and rising supply costs. "It's one of those things where it's been very hard to maintain its profits over time," he told AAP. Prof Scott said it would be important to assess how private hospitals are funded moving forward, along with managing contracts with private health insurers. The federal government confirmed on Monday that taxpayers would not be footing the bill for the healthcare provider. Health Minister Mark Butler said the provider would be a "very different beast going forward in terms of the ownership". Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the state needed a strong private health system to complement the public system. "I am confident that we will be able to meet the needs of all Victorians and that there is simply, at this point, no need to be concerned," she told reporters at state parliament on Tuesday. In 2022 the Victorian government took over two Healthscope facilities, Frankston Private and Bellbird Private Hospital, to assist with the increased pandemic demand for healthcare and elective surgery services. Ms Thomas said the state government had been watching the ailing company for some time. Healthscope operates the Northern Beaches Hospital in Sydney, Hobart Private Hospital, Darwin Private Hospital and Knox Private Hospital in Melbourne.
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Healthcare provider's collapse prompts reform demands
The viability of private healthcare is under the microscope following the collapse of a major hospital operator, with one union casting doubt on private equity management in the sector. Healthscope, which operates 37 hospitals across every state and territory, has vowed it will be business as usual for patients and staff after entering receivership. Unions called on governments to reassess the sustainability of the health system, including how public healthcare is funded and delivered within the private sector. "We don't want to see a sector governed by private equity firms like we have seen with Brookfields coming in and essentially leaving Healthscope in shatters," Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Victoria branch acting secretary Maddy Harradence told AAP. "We know the private sector plays a really important piece in the broader healthcare system but we need them to be functioning, regulated and we need them to ensure a fair share of profits go back into the private hospital sector." Healthscope on Monday was handed a $100 million funding lifeline from the Commonwealth Bank, while Westpac agreed to continue to provide assistance to help receivers sell the business. The provider, owned by North American private equity firm Brookfield, said while the parent entity had entered receivership, the operational business - which runs the hospitals - had not. Anthony Scott, a professor of health economics at Monash University, says it is difficult to remain profitable in the private health sector due to workforce shortages, the cost of living and rising supply costs. "It's one of those things where it's been very hard to maintain its profits over time," he told AAP. Prof Scott said it would be important to assess how private hospitals are funded moving forward, along with managing contracts with private health insurers. The federal government confirmed on Monday that taxpayers would not be footing the bill for the healthcare provider. Health Minister Mark Butler said the provider would be a "very different beast going forward in terms of the ownership". Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the state needed a strong private health system to complement the public system. "I am confident that we will be able to meet the needs of all Victorians and that there is simply, at this point, no need to be concerned," she told reporters at state parliament on Tuesday. In 2022 the Victorian government took over two Healthscope facilities, Frankston Private and Bellbird Private Hospital, to assist with the increased pandemic demand for healthcare and elective surgery services. Ms Thomas said the state government had been watching the ailing company for some time. Healthscope operates the Northern Beaches Hospital in Sydney, Hobart Private Hospital, Darwin Private Hospital and Knox Private Hospital in Melbourne.
