This report reveals how Canadians feel about the use of public-private partnerships to build infrastructure and provide public services in their communities. CCPPP commissioned Ipsos Reid to conduct public opinion research on views toward government partnerships with the private sector, and in particular, to gauge support or opposition towards private-sector involvement in certain sectors. Questions were the same as in previous years and this publication summarizes results since 2004 and makes specific comparisons to the 2008 survey.

Since the last poll in 2008, Canadians experienced dramatic change in their economic situations after the global financial collapse of that year. Canada fared better than most countries, but there was still a need for government action and as a result, a $15.7 billion dollar infrastructure program was established. Given the many changes that Canadians experienced over the past two years, the Council was not surprised that opinions had also changed.

The survey highlights show that:

• nine of 10 Canadians feel that government cannot keep pace with their country's infrastructure needs;
• two thirds of Canadians support the use of public-private partnerships (P3s) to deliver infrastructure and some public services;
• youth are the strongest supporters of P3s;
• support in Ontario has jumped dramatically from 56 per cent in 2008 to 64 per cent two years later; and
• well over half of union members support P3s.

Published: 11/2010; 16 pages