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Public-private partnership one way to bridge the gaping criticism from opposition politiciansIf Ontario was your house, it would be on the verge of falling apart. The roof needs reshin-and groups such as the Canadian Union of gling, the electrical system is ailing and the furnace is on its last legs. Forget about the fact Public Employees, in part because thethe bathroom hasnt been redone since the 1970s. Youve taken loans and are maxing out Canadian approach to most public facili-credit cards to pay for just part of what needs to be done. A Metroland Special Report shows ties and services has been to keep thethats the situation for Ontario municipalities as they struggle to fix our crumbling infra-entire process public, or as much of it asstructure the roads, buildings, water and sewer systems that underpin our daily life.possible.Third in a three-part seriesCritics found fuel in an Ontario AuditorGenerals report that concluded in 2008By David Fleischer and Nicole Visschedyk that $200 million could have been saved if Metroland Media Special Projectthe Province had done the borrowing itself on the new Brampton Civic Hospital.heyre known as public-privateBut Mark Romoff, chief executive offi-partnerships, or alternate financ-cer of The Canadian Council for Public-ing arrangements, or by the acro-Private Partnerships, disagrees.Tnym P3s.You need to follow the program fromThey have become popular tools in thebeginning to end and youll see the strong,limited range of options available to gov-successful P3 program does deliver valueernments trying to find money to repair orfor money, he said.renew the crumbling roads, public build-Partnerships have evolved from theirings and other infrastructure that under-beginnings in the early 1990s and are nowpin our communities.being used in more sectors at more levelsResidents of many communities willof government, Romoff said.already be familiar with the conceptA recent Edmonton breakfast broughtthrough the new hospitals, courthousesout 370 attendees to hear how P3s can helpand other public facilities for which themunicipalities, he said, a sign of increasedCrown agency, Infrastructure Ontario, isinterest at the cash-strapped municipalresponsible. (See fact box.)SUBMITTED ILLUSTRATIONlevel.Oakvilles new hospital, slated to breakWhen youre looking to move the infra-ground this summer in the area of DundasP3 PROJECT:The new Oakville hospital is an example of a public-private partnership, or alter-structure needle if theres an infrastruc-Street and Third Line, is an example of anative financing arrangement being used by Infrastructure Ontario to build much-needed facilitiesture gap and a fiscal challenge, the P3P3 project.in the province.model could be worth looking at, Romoff A consortium was recently selected tonew ways to said, acknowledging the partnerships arefund transit, has formallystructure funding, and while Infrastructuredesign, build, finance and maintain theasked Metrolinx (the regional transporta-Mnot a silver bullet for every project.inister Bob Chiarelli declined to disclosenew facility.tion authority) to look at alternate fundingdetaiJohn Loxley, a University of Manitobals, he said one element will be anThe Town of Oakville has committed tosources for municipal transit systems.expandedeconomics professor who studies and role for Infrastructure Ontario,contribute up to $130 million towards theThe Province is scheduled to soon makewhich was created six years ago.writes about P3s, evaluated prominentconstruction of the new hospital, to bepublprojects including Hwy. 407, the contro-ic its long-term, 10-year plan for infra-P3s are not uniformly popular, generat-located in the area of Dundas Street andversial toll highway built in a private-pub-Third Line. The Oakville Hospitallic partnership and now owned privately.Foundation is also fundraising for a total of Infrastructure OntarioHe believes the highway was a poor deal$60 million of the community share of thefor Ontario taxpayers.Infrastructure Ontario is an arms-length hospital costs.Major projects include:You need (infrastructure), but its gotCrown agency that manages public projects A $335-million courthouse in Durhamto be done right, he said. You dont getand arranges funding that includes private Region that opened in 2009 was the first Halton Healthcare (new Oakville hospital)something for nothing.sources for infrastructure ranging from court-project to go through Ontarios new alter- Facilities for the Pan Am Games, including But public-private partnerships are nothouses to sewer systems.nate financing program.Hamiltons soccer stadiumthe only potential options available to helpIt also provides municipalities and other Infrastructure Ontarios projects now Durham Consolidated Courthousemunicipalities solve the funding puzzle.public bodies with access to affordable loans include hospitals, the eastern extension of Montfort HospitalSolutions popular in other jurisdictionsfor new buildings and renewal.Hwy. 407, the modernization of Ontario Quinte Health Careare being looked at as well, including newThe agency has not issued an annual report Provincial Police facilities and highway Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Programmodels that would apportion a certain per-since the 2008-09 fiscal year, so it is difficult service centres across the province. Lakeridge Healthcentage of income tax or a percentage of to track projects and loans on paper.But a move is on to increase access to Markham Stouffville Hospitalsales tax such as the HST for infrastruc-However, the Province says that since 2005, public-private partnerships as municipali- Niagara Health Systemture.the agency has managed 52 infrastructure ties try to cope with the enormous burden Royal Victoria HospitalThe push for alternative financing isprojects worth $21 billion, including 35 hos-of funding infrastructure, a job that has Waterloo Region Consolidated Courthousedriven by the realization that municipali-pital projects and approved more than $4 already put many of them into debt. Highway 407 East Extensionties simply cannot hold the fort muchbillion in loans for more than 1,000 projects.York Region, for example, in search of ? West Lincoln Memorial HospitalSee Municipalities page 9Visit www.oakville.cakville Town Council resolved to pass By-law 2011-066 on June 13, 2011 to repeal By-law 2010-023, which designated Part of Lot D, Block 25, Plan 1, Repeal of By-law 2010-023Oadesignated as Part 2 on Plan 20R-7607, municipally known as 131 Trafalgar Road, under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 18.131 Trafalgar RoadAny inquiries may be directed to Carolyn Van Sligtenhorst at 905-845-6601, ext. 3875 or by email at cvansligtenhorst@oakville.caNotice of heritage designationr By-law 2011-028, Darlington Cottage, 3065 Seneca DriveAny inquiries may be directed to Susan Schappert, Heritage r By-law 2011-061, Howard French Bungalow, Planner, 905-845-6601, ext. 3870, sschappert@oakville.ca 374 Maple AvenueTown Council, on June 13, 2011, resolved to pass the following by-laws to designate the following properties r By-law 2011-062, Thomas A. Blakelock House, Carolyn Van Sligtenhorst, Heritage Planner, 905-845-6601, under the Ontario Heritage Act:293 Church Streetext. 3875, cvansligtenhorst@oakville.ca www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, June 24, 2011 8