Exploring options to strengthen Canada’s Capacity for public-private partnerships

Canada’s public infrastructure is ageing and the cost of replacing this infrastructure run in the order of hundreds of billions of dollars. Public-private partnerships (P3s) are long-term partnering arrangements between the public and private sector for infrastructure delivery and provide one viable method for Canadian governments to address this challenge. This study explores options to strengthen Canada’s organizational capacity for P3s, so that it may optimize the use of this procurement model to alleviate its worsening infrastructure conditions. Case study findings from the UK and Australia and synthesis of information from elite interviews identify a number of possible alternatives for evaluation. Broad policy recommendations include strengthening federal funding and institutional support, fostering a national P3 market and building public sector expertise.