I think the short version is that, as I mentioned, the council recognized the very serious risks, some of which I highlighted, when it comes to P3s. In the end, they opted to go public.
I want to put this in context, too, because while Mapleton is one important example and very connected to the CIB, this is happening in the context where there is a global movement, which at the council we're proud to be a part of, that is aimed at taking back public control of water. That now consists of 267 municipalities in 37 countries, so it's not just Mapleton. This is a widespread move to “remunicipalization” that is happening, because people, communities and councils are recognizing just how bad water P3s are for their communities.
Another really important example to look at is Hamilton, Ontario, which signed a 10-year P3 deal in 1998 for its water system. Soon after, residents woke up to 135 million litres of raw sewage spilling into the harbour and flooded basements and businesses. Hamilton's water service workforce had been cut in half, which I think is just one of many examples that highlight why P3s aren't about job creation and actually lead to job cuts. Project costs ballooned, and the water contract changed hands four times.
There's a lot to look at in terms of why going down this road is a very bad idea.