Bennett Jones congratulates the government of Nunavut for the outstanding success of the Iqaluit International Airport Improvement Project. The Project won the Gold Award for Infrastructure at the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships’ (CCPPP) 20th Annual National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in PPPs. Bennett Jones acted on behalf of the government of Nunavut throughout the procurement.

“This is a well-deserved award for government of Nunavut on a critical infrastructure project for Canada’s north,” says Paul Blundy, Partner and Head of Public Infrastructure Projects at Bennett Jones. “We’re thrilled to see them honoured for this world-class P3 project.”

Improving the Iqaluit International Airport was a major undertaking in Nunavut. The new facility includes a new airport terminal; expanded aprons for planes to park; new lighting systems; an upgraded runway; and a new combined services building housing the fire-fighting vehicles/support equipment and the heavy equipment that maintain the runways and aprons. The airport is critical to Nunavut, a vast coastal territory in which no two communities are connected by roads. The airport was kept open throughout the construction allowing people and supplies to continue to reach the communities of Nunavut and maintaining the only link to the south.

CCPPP said its Awards Committee found this project to be “an outstanding demonstration of how vital infrastructure in Northern Canada can be successfully delivered in a public-private partnership.” Committee members also took particular note of the project proponent’s extensive and effective community engagement and the resulting incorporation of unique local considerations in the planning, design, construction and operations of the airport facility, including the reflection of cultural values.

Since their inception in 1998, the annual CCPPP awards are a coveted seal of excellence in the P3 sector. The council noted there are currently 268 P3 projects in Canada, but only the Iqaluit International Airport Project rose to the level of Gold Award winner for Infrastructure in 2017.

More on the CCPPP’s Annual National Awards is available here.

About Bennett Jones

Bennett Jones is one of Canada's premier business law firms and home to over 380 lawyers and business advisors in nine offices. With deep experience in complex transactions and litigation matters, the firm is well equipped to advise foreign businesses and investors with Canadian ventures, and connect Canadian businesses and investors with opportunities around the world.

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