The Government of Alberta has announced they are using public-private partnerships to improve school facilities that otherwise would not be funded.
While this use of P3s is certainly fraught with political landmines, it's worth considering and exploring. As Alberta suggests, the model should enable them to stretch public money further than trying to do everything themselves. This story is worth keeping an eye on, as they continue to develop the model and work through the issues.
“Given the fiscal conditions we are in, we are looking at alternative delivery methods and alternative financing options,” he said, adding that the move could help decrease debt because “it won’t be on our balance sheet.” “We are extending the utilization of that money to later years and this is used all over the world, not just here,” he said.
