Sohi confirmed that the federal government was neither for nor against P3s and stressed that the model’s use will be left at the discretion of the respective municipalities overseeing potential new projects.
His words come after the government’s decision last month to remove the $100bn P3 screening process that was part of the Building Canada Fund.
The screen had been a major part of the methods used under the previous Conservative government and had contributed to impressive growth in the Canadian market.
Despite the decision, P3 insiders told P3 Bulletin last week that they were confident in the model’s value going forward, claiming that P3s will still play a vital role in the country’s ongoing infrastructure plans over the next 10 years.
The new federal government was sworn in last month, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As part of his campaign, Trudeau pledged to double the federal infrastructure budget to almost $125bn over the next decade.
A more detailed look at the Canadian market is featured in the winter edition of P3 Bulletin, out now
Canada P3 decisions ‘with municipalities'
Municipalities will be given the freedom to decide whether to use P3s to finance new large transit projects under the new federal government, according to infrastructure minister Amarjeet Sohi.