Winnipeg’s mayor is urging the province to compromise on its hotly contested demand the city gauge interest for a private-public partnership to operate two key sewage projects. Mayor Brian Bowman warns a delay could wind up sparking higher water and sewer rates. However, the province doesn’t appear interested in the city’s offer, which narrowly won the approval of council’s executive policy committee Tuesday. EPC cast a 4-3 final vote to have a consultant seek out interest in a potential private-public partnership (P3) with the city to design, build and finance two phases of the $1.8-billion north end sewage treatment plant upgrade.
Province tells City of Winnipeg it must explore public-private partnership for sewage plant
The provincial government wants the City of Winnipeg to explore expanding and operating the North End Sewage Treatment Plant through a public-private partnership that would privatize the city's entire treatment system, the director of the water and waste department says. Moira Geer's report to members of the city's executive policy committee says the Progressive Conservative government has directed the city to engage a consultant for an "analysis of the feasibility of a public-private partnership (P3) procurement methodology" for the sewage plant's biosolids and nutrient removal facilities.