The Regina Leader-Post reports, “Regina City Council gave city administration the green light to proceed with an application that would see a private company construct, maintain and operate the $224.3-million wastewater treatment facility. Administration will now issue a request for qualifications to design, build, finance, operate and maintain (DBFOM) the waste water treatment facility…”
“During the meeting, council heard from three delegations. Jim Elliott of the Regina Chapter of the Council of Canadians and Tim Anderson, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 21, spoke in opposition to the P3 funding model whereas John Hopkins, CEO of the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce, offered his support. Opposition views criticized the model as the most expensive and risky, resulting in the privatization of the municipal service as a requirement to receive federal funding. Further, concerns were raised alleging that P3 models don’t deliver projects on budget or on time, nor do they transfer the risk of failures to the private sector.”
There is still some hope that this P3 may not proceed.
“The deal hinges on the city’s funding request of between $50 million and $58.7 million being granted by the P3 Canada Fund – the higher amount representing 25 per cent of eligible construction costs. A response from the federal government is expected in May or June, according to a city official. Administration cannot proceed with a request for proposals if funding is denied and will have to consider other funding options.”
And beyond this there are still options that we may be able to pursue to stop this P3.
As reported previously, “Construction is slated to begin in 2014 and is expected to wrap up by the end of 2016.”
For more, please read:
NEWS: Regina chapter to oppose P3 project at City Council meeting today
UPDATE: Council of Canadians and CUPE to screen ‘Water Makes Money’ in Regina
NEWS: Regina’s executive committee unanimously backs P3 wastewater proposal
NEWS: Regina to debate P3 wastewater plant, February 13
