Investors Focusing on Infrastructure as Asset Class of Growing Importance

- Conference in Toronto Gathers International Experts as Economy and Environment Accelerate Appeal of P3 Projects -

TORONTO , Dec. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) is hosting its 17th annual national conference in Toronto today and tomorrow, attracting delegates from around the world and featuring high-profile speakers such as the Hon. Michael Wilson , the former Canadian Ambassador to the US.

"Commitments from the public and private sectors to P3 investments are accelerating rapidly," said Dale Richmond , President of CCPPP. "The P3 Conference will show that P3s are an increasingly appealing and sustainable method of getting Canadian infrastructure built. With investors looking to hard assets, P3s are increasingly attractive investment destinations within the Infrastructure Asset Class which is growing in importance."

Colin Duffield , Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Melbourne , Australia , is attending the conference to share his research findings which conclude that P3s provide superior performance in terms of both cost and time.

Dr. John Bosnell , Consultant and Former Programme Director, New Accommodations Programme for the UK Office of Government Communications is speaking about how the UK successfully delivered the Government Communications Headquarters in the UK as a P3, just as Ottawa begins work on a similar P3 project.

Simon Bernier , Senior Director, Energy Services Acquisition Program, Public Works and Government Services Canada along with Robert Brule , Project Leader, Long-Term Accommodation Project, Communications Security Establishment Canada are attending to share information on two massive P3 projects being proposed by the Government of Canada - a brownfield energy project to bring together energy services and a $880 billion greenfield project to develop a headquarters facility to house the operations of Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSES).

Diane Francis , Editor-at-Large for the National Post will lead a panel of finance industry experts in a discussion about lessons from the recent recession and how infrastructure is ranking among the top investments for 2010 and beyond.

The conference sessions are being held at the Toronto Hilton Hotel (Downtown). To see the full conference program, please visit: www.pppcouncil.ca.

The Annual Conference on Public-Private Partnerships is the premier event of The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships. This year, the conference is hosting over 850 delegates during two days of sessions and workshops, and an awards dinner. The theme of this year's conference is "Public-Private Partnerships: Strategic Investments in Canada's Future". This year's conference will host participants from around the world, including Canada , USA, UK, Spain , France , Luxembourg , Germany Australia .

Media registration is required to attend the conference. Please bring media credentials.

For further information: Alison Reed, [email protected], Work: [phone] x 227, Mobile: [phone]