What it stands for: Alternative service delivery
What it means: Torontos definition of ASD options:
- partnering including P3s
- creating separate corporations, agencies or utilities
- using volunteers
- contracting out
- reorganizing internally
- reducing or eliminating services (called service shedding)
- privatizing
The City of Toronto says: Its a re-thinking of the way the city does business, because the city needs to seriously reconsider what role it fulfils in delivering services and to consider changing that role. The citys policy says best value for taxpayers is priority one, and this may be accomplished in some cases by taking on an overall management or regulatory role and ensuring that others deliver a quality, cost-effective system of delivery.
The Toronto Board of Trade says: ASD is not a new concept to the City of Toronto. In fact, many examples of outsourcing, for example, currently exist. However, there are many other forms of alternative service delivery including joint venturing with other governments, public-private partnerships and even employee take-overs that can provide additional budget savings. The board talks about ASDs and PPPs in the same breath, and wants the city to redefine its core services and reformits service delivery model.
The Ontario government says: In its own Alternative Service Delivery Framework, many programs will be eliminated or reduced. But services left behind arent safe. [W]here there is no compelling reason for direct delivery, the government will pursue alternative models including greater involvement of the private sector. The governments new Municipal Act and SuperBuild infrastructure fund combined with deep funding cuts and downloading all push municipalities to contract out and privatize.