BC pushes Public-Private-Partnerships even more with international conference featuring Premier Gordon Campbell

If there was any doubt that the BC Liberal government is leading the way in privatizing the province, get over it.

Today I received information about a huge public-private-partnerships conference featuring Premier Gordon Campbell and Richard Abadie, the global head of PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ PPP Advisory Group in Britain, will be held in Vancouver on March 6.

BC currently boasts that there are more than $7.8 billion in P3 projects underway here and claims that California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is following Campbell's lead by introducing P3 as a solution to that state's fiscal crisis and infrastructure needs, as reported here and in my 24 hours column this month.

And that does not include the up to $60 billion in contracts likely to be given to so-called "independent power producers" for expensive, long-term deals to supply BC Hydro with electricity from run-of-river dams and other power projects, as also reported here and in 24 hours.

Here are the details of an invitation to the conference, which will cost $300 per person for non-members of the Vancouver Board of Trade, which is sponsoring the event.

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B.C. Public Private Partnerships Forum
Top UK expert joins Premier and Partnerships BC Larry Blain

Event: Public Private Partnerships in B.C. Forum
Time: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Date: Thursday, March 6, 2008
Place: The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, BC Ballroom

VANCOUVER, B.C. (Jan. 23, 2008) – With the number of public private partnerships (PPPs) growing as the province embarks on major infrastructure projects, one of the UK’s foremost PPP experts will join Premier Gordon Campbell and Larry Blain, CEO of Partnerships BC, to review British Columbia’s PPP experience to date and examine the future potential of PPP opportunities.

It’s all part of The Vancouver Board of Trade’s annual half-day B.C. Public Private Partnerships Forum (Thursday, March 6 at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver), which will kick off with a breakfast keynote address by Richard Abadie, the global head of PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ PPP Advisory Group in Britain.

As the size and scope of PPPs grow, attracting the interest of major national and international firms, Abadie will detail what local companies, communities, and economies can expect from PPPs, and will examine the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the global nature of PPP projects.

At the B.C. Public Private Partnerships Forum luncheon, Premier Campbell will describe how PPPs are helping make new and upgraded infrastructure projects practical and affordable for government and taxpayers alike, and what British Columbians can expect from this approach in future.

With a range of views still out there on the effects and impact of PPPs, top business, community and labour leaders will also be invited to voice their opinions during a lively panel session.

For more information on the BC Economic Forum or to register for this half-day event, visit http://www.boardoftrade.com/.