Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On May 12, 2011, the Finance Minister in Committee of the Whole stated, “We’ve been working diligently on a P3 policy for government. That policy has been to committee. We have had extensive feedback. We have what we think is a workable P3 policy.” According to public records on that same day, a Public-Private Partnership Policy No. 15.02 was born and on that same day the Minister also reassured the House, “I can assure the Member that the P3 policy, once in its place, will be followed by government and there’s a built-in full engagement of committees as well.” My questions today are for the Minister of Finance.
We have today what is referred to as non-statutory P3 related policy and not legislation. Real P3 legislation, which at times is referenced by the Minister as very prevalent now across the country, entails what is called “vinculum juris,” or the “network of rights,” duties, liabilities and so forth. Unfortunately, this policy does not. In fact, this six-page P3 policy merely reflects the objectives of the government and grossly lacks institutional framework.
How can the Minister assure the public this non-statutory policy will stack up to the rigour of public confidence? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Clearly, in this case, the proof will be in the pudding. We’ve laid out all the steps that we are following, the rigour and due diligence that we’re putting through in evaluating whether in fact the Stanton Hospital would even make the test for a valid P3 project and we have very capable people that are going to look at implementing the policy that we do have. It will be held accountable. It’s going to be a transparent process and we will engage on an ongoing basis with the appropriate committees. Thank you.
Let me remind the Minister, an act is designed to improve public operational efficiency, environmental performance, promote safety, attract the right private investment and minimize public liabilities. This P3 policy does not.
So again, how can the Minister stand before this House and denounce what is in the interest of public of a proper accountability and transparency process? Why did the department just not enact proper legislation rather than support and promote a policy? Thank you.
Thank you. If the Member has specific suggestions other than we should do legislation, we’d be happy to look at those at this juncture.
If there is going to be any legislation considered, that would be now part of transition planning for the 18th Legislative Assembly.
Thank you. The public has been led to believe that this lesser degree of scrutiny under a P3 policy rather than legislative process is what will guide and govern the decision-making of hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars of public money.
Can the Minister elaborate by what statutory obligation will general liability tort third-party liability for taxation or general risk liabilities be covered with the inadequacies of a non-statutory P3 policy? Thank you.
Thank you. It was a long question, lots of technical requests, legal references. Let me just assure the public and the Member opposite that, at the end of the day, $350 million will be invested in Stanton. It will be a state-of-the-art facility, it will last us well past the time that I’m still walking God’s green earth and it will be something that we’ll all be very, very proud of. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you. We’ve come to expect these types of responses from the Minister. To my opening comments today where the Minister assures there would be a built-in, full engagement of the committees on this P3 policy, upon review of the policy, it only briefly mentions standing committee would be involved in the proposal assessment phase, yet fails to prescribe exactly by what means this would happen.
Can the Minister elaborate? Where is the full engagement as promised? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We’d be happy to sit down with committee if there are concerns by committee on the process going forward. We’d be happy to have those discussions to make sure it is as fulsome, integrated and engaged as possible as befits consensus government. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.
