That would be tantamount to privatizing the entire Winnipeg water treatment system, she argues in a report to the city’s executive committee.
In the report, she writes that the Progressive Conservative government asked the city to hire a consultant to obtain a analysis of the feasibility of a public-private partnership (P3) as a procurement methodology
for processing biosolids and removing nutrients in the plant.
The City wants to benefit from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for the modernization of the plant, which is expected to cost approximately $ 1.8 billion. However, the City’s request must be approved by the province, which would then send it to Ottawa.
Instead of sending a request for funding to Ottawa, the province asked the City to explore the possibility of a public-private partnership.
As the water treatment plants work in tandem and a contract with the private sector could last up to 30 years, Ms. Geer concludes that a public-private partnership would take control of the water treatment system from the city.
<q data-attributes="{"lang":{"value":"fr","label":"Français"},"value":{"html":"Ce genre de P3would essentially be a privatization of the entire City of Winnipeg water treatment system “,” text “:” This kind of P3 would essentially be a privatization of the entire City of Winnipeg water treatment system “}}”>This kind of P3 would essentially be a privatization of the entire City of Winnipeg water treatment system., she wrote in her report.
The city administration told the province that a public-private partnership would not work for the maintenance and operation of the plant, but this was ignored, it adds.
She is therefore asking the committee for $ 400,000 to hire a consultant, in order to comply with the province’s directive.
Municipal Water and Waste Committee chairman Brian Mayes says he will vote against the expense.
I would like to sit down with the people of the province, face to face, and tell them: did you really do that? Is this a misunderstanding? Do you really think we need to privatize water treatment?
, he says.
This new demand from the province will once again delay the modernization project for the city’s largest wastewater treatment plant.
In 2003, the province’s Environmental Protection Commission ordered the city to reduce the amount of nutrients it discharges into the river, which ends up in Lake Winnipeg.
A spokesperson for Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said the province should stop delaying the project.
The mayor is of the opinion that the provincial government must respect the will of the municipal council and forward the City’s request to the federal government without further delay or conditions.
, he said.
A spokesperson for Municipal Relations Minister Derek Johnson said the city, as a signatory to a possible contract with the private sector, would retain control of its water treatment system.
Manitoba believes that a P3 procurement model would bring the benefits of greater cost certainty and [le respect des contraintes financières] as well as an acceleration of the schedule
, he said.
The City’s executive committee will consider the province’s request on Wednesday.
With information from Sean Kavanagh
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