Public-Private Partnership

Learn about public-private partnerships (P3s) in Canada — what they are, how they work, and why they’re used for infrastructure projects.

Public-Private Partnership

August 01, 2025


What is a Public-Private Partnership?

A public-private partnership (P3) is a collaborative arrangement between a government agency and a private-sector company to finance, build, and operate infrastructure projects or deliver services.

Why Public-Private Partnerships Matter in Real Estate

In Canadian real estate and infrastructure, P3s help governments leverage private capital and expertise to complete large-scale projects efficiently.



Key features:
  • Shared risk and responsibility between public and private partners
  • Long-term contracts outlining performance standards
  • Used for transportation, hospitals, schools, and utilities



Understanding P3s helps developers and municipalities explore financing and delivery models for major infrastructure needs.

Example of a Public-Private Partnership in Action

The city entered a public-private partnership to build and operate a new light rail transit line.

Key Takeaways

  • Combines public oversight and private investment
  • Used for major infrastructure and facilities
  • Shares risks and rewards between parties
  • Requires detailed, long-term agreements
  • Can accelerate project delivery and innovation

Related Terms

Additional Terms

Public Realm Improvements

Public realm improvements are enhancements to public spaces such as sidewalks, parks, plazas, and streetscapes, often funded or contributed by. more

Mortgagee in Possession

A mortgagee in possession is a lender who takes control of a property after borrower default, but before foreclosure or power of sale. The lender. more

Lease Surrender Agreement

A lease surrender agreement is a negotiated contract between a landlord and tenant that ends a lease before its scheduled expiration. Terms may. more

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure refers to natural or engineered systems that manage stormwater, reduce heat, and improve sustainability in developments.. more

Escrow Holdback

An escrow holdback is a portion of funds withheld at closing and held in escrow until specific conditions are met, such as completion of repairs,. more

Underused Housing Tax

The Underused Housing Tax (UHT) is a federal annual 1% tax on the value of vacant or underused residential property owned by non-resident,. more

More For You

Beaches Beauty Sells Over Asking After 6 Days On The Market

Beaches Beauty Sells Over Asking After 6 Days On The Market

Zolo

We're smitten with this 3-bed beauty that was just snapped up in The Beaches.

At 138 Lee Avenue, the layout runs across 2½ storeys plus a finished basement — four usable floors in total.

Keep Reading Show less

Moving Day: June 2026 Industry Hires And Promotions

Moving Day: June 2026 Industry Hires And Promotions

Daniel Khalil, Fieldgate Construction Management Limited; Jessica Child, Turner Construction; Artem Kaikov, DiamondCorp; Mualla Y, Forum Asset Management; Neil D Chander, Tricon; Jennifer Ryder, CBRE Canada

We know you like to know what's up.

For your information, reference, and networking needs, here are the moves, hires, and promotions the real estate and development sector saw in June 2026:

Keep Reading Show less

What’s Open And Closed In Metro Vancouver On Canada Day 2026

What’s Open And Closed In Metro Vancouver On Canada Day 2026

We're here with what you need to know about Canada Day in Metro Vancouver for 2026.

To start, public transit will be operating on holiday schedules. According to TransLink, buses will run on a holiday/Sunday schedule, while SkyTrains and SeaBuses will all run on modified versions of the Sunday/holiday schedule. West Coast Express will not operate.

Keep Reading Show less

Toronto Slashing DCs By Up To 60% As Ontario Municipalities Sit On Billions In Reserves

Toronto Slashing DCs By Up To 60% As Ontario Municipalities Sit On Billions In Reserves
Shutterstock

Ontario was sitting on roughly $10.5 billion in development charge (DC) reserves by the end of 2024, according to a recent report from Desjardins that argues municipalities have become overly accustomed to the fees as a source of revenue.

More controversial still, DCs remain one of the most serious obstacles to new housing in a province where affordability is crumbling.

Keep Reading Show less

ELM And Fiera Break Ground At 270 Sheppard West

ELM And Fiera Break Ground At 270 Sheppard West

ELM Developments

ELM Developments and Fiera Real Estate acquired the assembly at 270 Sheppard Avenue West on January 29. They broke ground on June 17.

In a market where rental projects routinely spend years in rezoning, moving from purchase to shovels in under five months is the point — and at 270 Sheppard, they planned it that way.

Keep Reading Show less

OpenForm, Alabaster Planning 32-And 28-Storey Towers In Metrotown

OpenForm, Alabaster Planning 32-And 28-Storey Towers In Metrotown

The proposal for 6470 and 6508 Silver Avenue in Burnaby. (OpenForm Properties, Alabaster Homes, Arcadis)

Vancouver-based developers OpenForm Properties and Alabaster Homes are partnering on a two-tower project in the Metrotown neighbourhood of Burnaby, according to a rezoning application set to be considered by Council this week.

The subject site of the proposal is 6470 and 6508 Silver Avenue, which is located directly across the street from Maywood Park and half a block away from Metrotown Station.

Keep Reading Show less

GTA Low-Rise Sales Top 10-Year Average For Second Month

GTA Low-Rise Sales Top 10-Year Average For Second Month
Aerial photo of Toronto skyline

GTA new home sales aren't out of the woods yet — but the low-rise market is making a strong case for optimism.

For the second consecutive month, single-family home sales in the Greater Toronto Area surpassed the 10-year average, buoyed by the enhanced HST rebate program introduced in April 2026. According to new data from BILD and market intelligence firm Altus Group, 830 single-family homes sold in the GTA in May — 26% above the segment's 10-year average, and a significant jump from the same month in 2025.

Keep Reading Show less
IN THE KNOW: GTA Low-Rise Sales Top 10-Year Average For Second Month

Canderel Breaks Ground On Forêt Forest Hill With Five-Bank Financing In Place

Canderel Breaks Ground On Forêt Forest Hill With Five-Bank Financing In Place

(liveatforet.ca)

At Bathurst and St. Clair, Canderel has officially started construction on Forêt Forest Hill — its three-tower, master-planned community in midtown Toronto.

The development has secured construction financing from a consortium of five major Canadian banks led by CIBC, with National Bank, TD, Desjardins, and Laurentian Bank rounding out the group.

Keep Reading Show less
Privacy Policy About Us Terms of Use Advertise with Us Jobs Contact Us RSS Feed
All rights reserved SiteMedia © 2026.