Think tank urges Liberals to sell money-making assets to private sector
OTTAWA — A new report is urging the Trudeau Liberals to make their new, experimental infrastructure bank a centre for helping cities and provinces sell off existing assets, rather than just helping to build new infrastructure.
The C.D. Howe Institute says the Liberals, along with provinces, territories and cities, could raise between $67-$100 billion by selling off revenue-generating assets like airports that would be attractive to private sector investors.
The Liberals have been considering whether to sell off stakes in Canada’s airports, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said last week, adding that it is part of an ongoing discussion around what assets the government should continue to own.
The paper says the Liberals should also consider allowing domestic or foreign investors to cover the full price for projects, absent public funding.