15th Annual Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships Awards for Innovation and Excellence

TORONTO, Nov. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) is proud to announce the 2012 recipients of the National Awards for Innovation & Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships. The awards recognize outstanding Canadian public-private partnerships (P3) in the areas of project financing, service delivery, and infrastructure. The 2012 slate includes two highways, five healthcare facilities and P3 Champion, Monique Jérôme-Forget.

This year's recipients showcase how the P3 approach and Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP), as it is known in Ontario, are having a positive impact in communities across Canada looking for renewal and investment to deliver infrastructure and services faster, more efficiently and at greater value for taxpayers.

"We are continually impressed by the stories the partners tell of true collaboration between the public and private sectors in taking the projects from concept to operation," said Mark Romoff, President and CEO, CCPPP. "With projects awarded this year in five provinces, it shows that public-private partnerships have become an important vehicle for governments to deliver much-needed infrastructure and improve the quality of life for Canadians across the country."

Gold Award Winners

Kelowna and Vernon Hospitals Project (Service Delivery Award) - This complex project includes a whole-site facility management model with multiple buildings 50 kilometres apart and that fall under two regional health organizations. The private partner took over responsibility for maintaining existing facilities in 2009 as well as three new facilities. The integrated plant maintenance, consistent standards and single help desk will ensure the facilities management services are at the leading edge of efficiency.

BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North (Infrastructure Award) - The facility innovatively incorporated wood elements in many interior and exterior elements, reflecting the Aboriginal cultural context of B.C.'s North and to promote the use of wood construction. It also has a medicinal healing garden and a spiritual care room. The green roof is comprised of local plants that provide several benefits, including capturing rainwater, providing insulation and offering a unique view to patients, staff and visitors. The interior design is expected to create efficient staff flow throughout the building and encourage greater interdisciplinary team work and resource sharing, resulting in superior patient care. Design and construction was completed in just over 2½ years at a total cost of $72.2 million with estimated savings of $4.9 million over the life of the agreement.

Centre hospitalier de I'Université de Montréal - CHUM (Project Finance Award) - The project involves the replacement of three existing hospitals into one new facility of approximately 332,655 square metres in downtown Montréal. The new hospital will act as a tertiary referral centre for 1.7 million people in Québec and will be a multi-building complex with a 24-storey principal building. It involves the largest P3 senior debt funding in Canada to date with a value of $1.37 billion and was the first Canadian P3 financed at a BBB‐category rating level.

Silver Award Winners

Humber River Regional Hospital New Acute Care Facility (Project Finance Award) - This $1.75 billion project is the first fully digital hospital in North America. The $1 billion of private construction-phase financing is sourced from a combination of short-term and long-term bond proceeds, which achieved an "A" rating by each Standard & Poors and DBRS when they were issued.

Fort St. John Hospital and Residential Care Project (Infrastructure Award) - The $301.8 million facility in Fort St. John, BC includes a 55-bed hospital and 124-bed residential care facility for seniors. The residential care buildings were constructed out of wood to provide a home-like environment for the residents. Designed and built to meet LEED Gold certification, it will help provide much-improved care to patients and seniors. The final agreement is expected to achieve value for taxpayers' dollars of $20.7 million.

Award of Merit

Northwest Anthony Henday Drive - This project involved the design and construction of approximately 21 kilometres of 6- and 4-lane divided roadway. It has eight interchanges, five flyovers, and two railroad crossings. The road was opened to traffic in November 2011 and has delivered both cost savings projected over the life of the 30-year agreement of $240 million and reduced average commute times north of Edmonton.

C.W. Chuck Wills Award

Disraeli Bridges &Freeway Project - This City of Winnipeg project included the replacement of the 2-kilometre stretch of the Disraeli Freeway, with a new road and two bridge structures over the Red River and railway. The private partner was challenged with environmental contamination and keeping lanes open during construction. The result is 17% in cost savings compared to the traditional approach and a much-improved artery into Winnipeg's downtown. The Chuck Wills Award is presented to outstanding municipal P3 projects in memory of the former CAO of the City of Windsor who was a tireless supporter of P3 and a CCPPP Board member.

2012 P3 Champion

In 2003, Monique Jérôme-Forget was appointed Québec Treasury Board President and served as Minister of Finance from 2007 to 2009. An early proponent of P3, it was during her term that the province's P3 agency, PPP Québec, was created and eight projects with an investment value of $6 billion were started. They include Autoroute 25 and 30, the Montréal Concert Hall, the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and its Research Centre, and the Champlain Long-Term Care facility. Today, Madame Jérôme-Forget continues to provide council on strategic issues as a special advisor at Osler Hoskin and Harcourt LLP, and at Korn/Ferry International.

About the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships: Established in 1993, CCPPP is a national not-for-profit, non-partisan, member-based organization with broad representation from across the public and private sectors. Its mission is to promote innovative approaches to infrastructure development and service delivery through public-private partnerships with all levels of government. The Council is a proponent of evidence-based public policy in support of P3s, facilitates the adoption of international best practices, and educates stakeholders and the community on the economic and social benefits of public-private partnerships. The Council organizes an annual conference that is recognized internationally as the premier forum bringing together senior government and business leaders in the P3 community at which the most successful Canadian public-private partnerships are celebrated through CCPPP's National Awards for Innovation and Excellence.

SOURCE: CANADIAN COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

For more information about CCPPP contact:

Mark Romoff, President and CEO, CCPPP
416-861-0500
[email protected]

For Media Enquiries contact:

Chris Allicock
[email protected]
416-694-3131 (o)
416-319-8003 (c)