The government seems to be making a strong headway in its attempts to extend the scope of the public-private partnership (PPP) beyond infrastructure projects, with the Planning Commission close to finalising draft agreements for projects in areas such as school education, electricity transmission and urban water supply. Join discussion...

Three groups of companies have been asked by the Alberta government to submit proposals as to how they would build and maintain 10 new elementary and junior high schools. Provincial officials said Thursday that companies involved in the Alberta Public Private Learning Excellence (APPLE) Group, Build II Learn and Plenary Lend Lease (PLL) Education Alberta, have all been asked to come up with detailed proposals by March 2010 as to how they would pursue the projects and how much they would charge the province. Join discussion...

Canada’s new public-private partnership (P3) office is as much about educating provinces and municipalities about the project model as it is about building itself. “The state of affairs in provinces differ and range from ones starting to think about P3s to those with significant programs ongoing and to those who have never done one or thought about it,” said John McBride, P3 Canada’s CEO. Join discussion...

The second major phase of school construction is underway in Alberta, but contrary to earlier plans, only some will be built as Public Private Partnerships. “Essentially the feedback we received from industry and the market was the two bundle approach would be more attractive to industry and would allow industry to secure financing more easily than 14 schools as a complete P3,” said Tim Chamberlin, communications officer with Alberta Education. Join discussion...

The Alberta government said Friday that it will pay for four new high schools in the traditional way, rather than leasing them back over several decades through a public-private partnership as originally proposed. Education Minister Dave Hancock said in a press release that the government had “refined” the model for a package of 14 new schools announced in January 2008 in response to “the economic climate.” Join discussion...

Privately financed university campuses in the UK will be the inspiration for a wave of similar deals across the Channel, according to the French government. Valérie Pécresse, the French higher education minister, this week visited King's College in London, built under a public-private partnership worth £60m. Join discussion...