Over the years, provincial auditors across the country have questioned the financial rationale for using public-private partnerships (P3s) to build public infrastructure.
Provincial auditors, or auditors general, are independent officers of legislative assemblies who audit government finances to ensure that public monies are spent in a proper and accountable manner.
Few P3s have been reviewed by provincial auditors. But when they do examine them, provincial auditors find that P3s cost more than traditional public projects, use questionable methodology, lack accountability and do not transfer risk to the private sector.
