Public-Private Partnerships: Demystifying the Process

The use of public-private partnerships (known as P3s) is now well established in Canada at the federal level and in several provinces, notably Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Currently, P3s are playing a bigger role in building and capital projects across all areas of government, including power generation, energy delivery, water and wastewater facilities, waste disposal, transportation, communications, education and health facilities, and public service buildings. Recently, its popularity has led to P3s being used more frequently in smaller-scale developments across Canada, such as schools, courthouses, and hospitals.

A great deal of thought and planning must go into developing the process that will govern the public-private partnership project. First of all, it is crucial to recognize that there are two distinct worlds that must be addressed when dealing with projects such as these: the business world and the political