Today, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure, Laurie Scott, joined Michael Lindsay, president and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario (IO), to discuss developments underway in Ontario’s infrastructure outlook according to the April 2021 P3 Market Update and what to expect in 2021 and beyond. The discussion was moderated by Angela Clayton, IO’s new president of project delivery.
This update reaffirms the projects detailed in the December 2020 Update and the recent Ontario Budget, including some added detail to some projects’ procurement schedules. IO’s first Market Update for 2021 includes 41 projects, with 27 projects in pre-procurement and 14 in active procurement totaling an estimated $60 billion in contract value.
The list also includes 12 additional government-announced projects in early stages of planning and determining the project’s scope, timing, and delivery model.
Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott, who previously worked in healthcare, was pleased to report on several key infrastructure investments for health care and long-term care projects at the market update announcement.
“The P3 Market Update demonstrates our government’s continuing commitment to protecting people’s health and economy by investing in key infrastructure projects that contribute to growth, support community improvements and protect and create local jobs,” said Scott. “These infrastructure investments in health care, highways and other community safety projects, especially those included in this Market Update, help to protect the economy, contributing to its renewal and long-term recovery.”
Highlights
- Thunder Bay Correctional Facility RFP was issued April 1.
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Integrated Treatment Centre is added as a project in pre-procurement.
- Collingwood General and Marine – Hospital Redevelopment/Replacement is added in pre-procurement.
- Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare – Mental Health Inpatient Bed Expansion is new to pre-procurement.
- Niagara Health – New South Niagara Hospital Project moved to active procurement.
“The Update we are presenting today marks a significant step forward as we broaden the type of planning information we share with industry,” said Lindsay. “As the market changes and government project needs evolve, so must we. We have been listening closely to the ideas and concerns of our industry partners and will continue to do so at all levels of our organization.”
According to Lindsay, this update confirms the continuation of Ontario’s historic commitment in modernizing the province’s public assets, including highways, public transit, hospitals, children’s treatment centres, courthouses, and correctional facilities.
Overview
- Health and Long-Term Care – Late last year IO marked the completion of its 50th P3 Health project. IO is partnering with Trillium Health Partners in their ambitious capital redevelopment program. IO’s partnership with Trillium includes several capital projects, the ongoing rapid construction of two long-term care facilities, and additional advisory support. IO confirmed the addition of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) project—previously in the planning category—to pre-procurement as a Design-Build-Finance.IO is also supporting the Ministry of Long-Term Care by leading its Long-Term Care Land Disposition Program. This program is offering surplus government lands that have been identified for disposition for the specific purpose of addressing capacity issues and delivering long-term care.
- Transit – The update demonstrates continued progress on the work underway with IO and Metrolinx. IO has confirmed that two of the three Ontario Line contracts, and two of three subway extensions projects, are scheduled to be in market next quarter. Early work has already begun toward advance tunneling projects on both the Scarborough Subway Extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and IO expects to finalize advance tunneling contracts later this spring.
- Transportation – The Garden City Skyway is identified in the planning section of the Update along with those already progressing toward RFQs this year (Highways 3 and 17). More detail will be announced with regard to future highway P3 projects.
- Justice – The early success of rapid construction on long-term care homes in Mississauga, Toronto, and Whitby has led to adopting the program for the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre and Kenora Jail. IO anticipates further use of this rapid delivery approach for additional projects as the province continues to identify urgent capital needs and opportunities to use proven, faster delivery methods.
- Transforming Real Estate Asset Management – Working on behalf of the Government of Ontario, IO manages one of Canada’s largest and most diverse real estate portfolios in Canada. It includes nearly 4,500 buildings and other structures, more than 15 million square feet in rentable office space and one million acres of land spanning the province. IO is currently working with contracted partners to manage, transact leases, and maintain those assets through property and land management contracts that are set to expire next year.
- Broadband – IO supports the government’s significant commitment to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved areas across the province. The government of Ontario’s investment is an opportunity for innovative partnerships with industry to provide high-speed broadband infrastructure throughout Ontario quickly, and cost effectively, by 2025. More details will be provided.
- Adding PDC and TA Details – A new addition to our Market Update is detail regarding projects that include planning, design and compliance (PDC) and technical advisory (TA) contracts. These pre-project contracts enable IO to plan for the most effective and cost-competitive projects.
To read the complete update, click here.
Featured image: Kingston Health Sciences – Kingston General Hospital Redevelopment is one of the health care projects featured in the update.
