The survey, which questioned 2,000 Canadians, found that 88% believed the government had trouble keeping up with the infrastructure deficit and 63% said it was right to use PPPs.
‘Measuring Public Reaction to PPP in Canada: A Four Year Report’ was commissioned by the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) and released at its annual public awards ceremony last week.
The report, conducted by Environics Research Group, was carried out over four years between 2004 and 2007 and looked at the changes in public perception and support of the government’s use of PPPs. It showed that, in 2007, Conservative support for PPPs was highest at 72% followed by Liberals at 62% and the National Democratic Party of Canada at 53%.
Support for PPP use across sectors varied with roads, leisure facilities and hospitals getting the most support at 73%, 71% and 63% respectively. Respondents were least in favour of water sector PPPs at 55%.
Quebec respondents were PPPs’ biggest champions with 76% backing PPPs up from 73% last year. In Ontario and British Columbia just over half supported PPPs at 56%, down from 58% and 57% respectively last year.