The Ottawa CUPE District Council is working hard to put the brakes on P3s in the nation’s capital. City council recently voted to consider P3s for an emergency medical services facility and a long term care centre, as well as for ice rinks and other recreation facilities. Reports indicate corporations are lining up to cash in on the contracts.
CUPE council representatives made a presentation to city officials and circulated a comprehensive brief to city council exposing the many pitfalls of municipal P3s. In addition to outlining key arguments to keep public services and facilities in public hands, the brief calls on city council to involve the public in wide-ranging discussions about the costs of P3s. The CUPE brief also urges city council to seek provincial and federal infrastructure funding, rather than turning to the private sector. While city council has agreed to limited consultations as projects arise, CUPE will continue to push to keep services in public hands.
CUPE council representatives made a presentation to city officials and circulated a comprehensive brief to city council exposing the many pitfalls of municipal P3s. In addition to outlining key arguments to keep public services and facilities in public hands, the brief calls on city council to involve the public in wide-ranging discussions about the costs of P3s. The CUPE brief also urges city council to seek provincial and federal infrastructure funding, rather than turning to the private sector. While city council has agreed to limited consultations as projects arise, CUPE will continue to push to keep services in public hands.