In another public works victory, Manitoba is now an Olsten-free zone. The U.S. homecare mega-corporation failed to deliver the goods in a private home care pilot project that crashed and burned.
The province had given Olsten a contract to deliver 10 per cent of the provinces home care. CUPE and other health care activists were deeply concerned the contract gave the for-profit corporation an inroad into a much wider share of the provinces home care.
In December 1997, less than a year after awarding Olsten the $5.6 million contract for Winnipeg home care work, the government announced the one-year contract would not be renewed.
Then-Health Minister Darren Praznik was forced to admit the public system provided better quality and cheaper care.
Olsten officially closed its Winnipeg office on May 28.