P3 water project in Abbotsford sparks outcry chambers, 2011, properly, proposal, Mission

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P3 water project in Abbotsford sparks outcry
Opponents to a public/private water partnership proposal are rallying outside council chambers Monday night
News1130 Staff Apr 17, 2011 07:21:13 AM
0    ABBOTSFORD (NEWS1130) - While Mission Council voted down a proposal for a public/private water partnership last week, Abbotsford is still considering going ahead with one.

Water Watch Mission-Abbotsford is opposed to the proposal, saying the public hasn't been properly consulted. Lynn Perrin with the group says the P3 project is being pushed on the city by the federal Conservative government. "They say any project over $50-million has got to go forward as a P3, in order to get any federal money at all.

“If P3s water projects are so great, why is Abbotsford virtually alone in Canada in handing over control of its water services to a private corporation for profit?” asks Perrin. According to Water Watch, the only other design-build-finance and operate P3 water project is in the City of Moncton.

Perrin expects a couple of dozen protesters to be outside Abbotsford Council Chambers at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Monday at 6:30pm.

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