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It’s unfortunate NDP Leader Ryan Meili and MLA Cathy Sproule did not attend a Pacific Northwest Economic Region discussion on public-private partnerships (P3s) with an open mind.

But it’s not a surprise, given that Mr. Meili and Ms. Sproule are long-standing ideological opponents of P3s.

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What they and their colleagues refuse to acknowledge is that P3s are a legitimate option for governments working to meet the infrastructure needs of their citizens.

Governments around the world, of various political persuasions, are using P3s.

According to the P3 Spectrum database, there are 286 active P3 projects in Canada, in nine provinces and two territories. In NDP British Columbia, there are 46 active projects.

Most governments understand that infrastructure procurement can’t be about ideology or pre-conceived ideas about what might work best.

It has to be evidence-based to provide best value for taxpayers and the best outcomes for communities and citizens.