EJQ4 - Spring 2025 - Journal - Page 40
“Municipalities across Canada are increasingly turning
to ‘bundling’ as a potential strategy to address multiple
environmental challenges simultaneously.”
In a collaborative approach to contracting, the municipal owner along
with the design build (DB) and O&M providers are collectively engaged in
the project design and construction process. This approach builds trust
and strengthens relationships whereby performance commitments are
transparently developed and priced, and risks are eliminated or mitigated
to the greatest extent possible. Other bene昀椀ts of collaborative contracting
include: a simple, inexpensive procurement process; increased participation which provides savings in terms of schedule and costs; 昀氀exibility to
complete work based on funding; the municipality owner’s right to reject
the guaranteed maximum price without signi昀椀cant project delays; and
increased likelihood of designing to budget.
There is no perfect procurement model — the choice depends on the mu-
nicipality’s goals and project risks — however, collaborative contracting
lets municipalities choose the best teams for each project phase. By separating design-build from operations and maintenance, this approach improves teamwork, 昀氀exibility, and transparency while managing risks and
costs more e昀昀ectively than a combined design, build, operate and maintain model.
To this end, Veolia is working with industry associations including the
Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships that have developed
toolkits for municipal procurement departments to better leverage their
resources and deliver critical infrastructure on time and on budget.
What are your thoughts on the environmental services market in
Canada and changing dynamics, including the impacts from the
looming tari昀昀s and other threats from the U.S. administration?
In these uncertain times, it is important the environmental services
sector can help Canadian governments and businesses to not only address
their environmental challenges but also thrive. Simple and identical
cross-country rules and regulations regarding interprovincial transport
and disposal of waste, certi昀椀cation of labour and other such requirements
of the environmental services industry would certainly help.
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • S PRI N G 2 0 2 5 • P AGE 4 0
