November 27, 2006

B.C.’s P3s Lead in National Awards

JEAN SORENSEN

Correspondent

VANCOUVER

B.C. captured top honours at the 2006 Canadian Council of Public-Private Partnerships National Awards held in Toronto Nov. 20 winning the two gold awards as well as receiving an award of merit. Two of the projects are with the provincial government while one is with TransLink, the Greater Vancouver transportation authority.

B.C. was the only province in Western Canada to win awards for P3 deals, which have been the spark at the centre of heated controversy and criticism by organizations such as the Canadian Union of Public Employees. But, the awards drew nothing but praise from B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell who has been a strong supporter of P3 deals. On October 27 the Union of B.C. Municipalities advocated that all public infrastructure projects over $20 million should be considered by Partnerships BC for a P3 deal.

“These awards from the CCPPP are a testament to the fact that P3s save the taxpayer money, transfer risk and add greater value through design innovations and private sector ingenuity,” Campbell said upon hearing of the awards given to the Partnership BC projects.

Not all agree that P3s are a benefit. CUPE BC secretary-treasurer Mark Hancock, responding to Campbell’s speech to the UBCM promoting P3s to Partnership BC, said: “It might be a great day for bankers and investors, but it’s a lousy day for municipalities who have just lost even more of their already dwindling autonomy.”

The province currently has $4.7 billion in approved P3 projects underway, which includes $3 billion in private capital.

Receiving the gold award for project financing was the partnership of Bilfinger Berger BOT Inc. and the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink) for the Golden Ears Bridge project. TransLink is the private transportation entity in the P3 deal for the Golden Ears Bridge.

TransLink released information acknowledging the award but provided no comment because of the sensitivity of P3 contracts, said spokesman Ken Hardie.

The gold award for infrastructure was presented to the partnership of EPCOR Water Services Inc. and the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands for the Britannia Mine Water Treatment Plant project.

A second B.C. government project earned award merit for project financing for the partnership of the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Bilfinger Berger BOT Inc. for the Kicking Horse Canyon – Phase 2 project.

Partnerships B.C. chief executive officer Larry Blaine said the awards provide validation of B.C.’s leadership role in implementing P3 projects.

“The Britannia partnership project has provided an innovative and cost effective solution to one of the most significant and long standing environmental issues in B.C.,” said Agriculture and Lands Minister Pat Bell. “The clean-up of the old mine site has spurred renewed confidence in Britannia, including the redevelopment and substantial expansion of the existing community.”

Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon said of the Kicking Horse project that the P3 model achieved millions of dollars in savings for the province calling it “a tremendous engineering feat incorporating innovative designs delivered months ahead of schedule.”

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