Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for Minister Miltenberger and Finance. I have questions about the P3 contract we are proposing for the retrofit of Stanton Territorial Hospital.
I am worried that it may not be the best deal for the people of the Northwest Territories. Research indicates that failure rates are high, that they amount to a huge transfer of tax dollars to private financers, and buyout of P3s are becoming more common. Because it’s politically expedient to defer expenses and avoid debt, the government is essentially renting money rather than borrowing it more cheaply on their own.
I’d like to ask the Minister why has he chosen this justly maligned model for a project so important to the well-being of our citizens as the retrofit of our territorial hospital.