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The province has abandoned a plan put forth by the former Progressive Conservative government to build new schools in partnership with the private sector.
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Tracy Schmidt, the NDP’s acting education minister, said the government remains committed to building schools but the Tory plan didn’t have any funds or planning behind it.
“We are proceeding with our plans to build schools and ensure that kids have a place to grow and learn,” Schmidt said in an emailed statement.
Before the last election, the PCs promised to have nine schools built through a P3 system where a private contractor would be hired to design, construct and maintain the buildings through a long-term funding deal.
They said the method would save money and allow all nine schools to be up and running by 2027.
A request for qualifications from potential bidders was put out before the election. The New Democrats put the project under review after forming government.
“There were two respondents in this process, which was subsequently discontinued,” the statement read.
“While this (request for qualifications) has been discontinued, the province remains committed to building schools that respond to the needs of students and educators across Manitoba.”
Premier Wab Kinew hinted the plan would likely be axed in favour of a more traditional construction model when he launched the review in November.
Schools under the Tory plan were to be built in several communities including Winnipeg, Brandon, Neepawa and Ste. Anne.
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