Lexpert magazine features articles and columns on developments in legal practice management, deals and lawsuits of interest in Canada, the law and business issues of interest to legal professionals and businesses that purchase legal services.
Issue link: https://digital.carswellmedia.com/i/1470131
28 www.lexpert.ca Big Deals COMPILED BY ZENA OLIJNYK AND KIEZZSA CRUZ > INFRASTRUCTURE DEALS the lower cost of operating ZEBs. The program required an innovative approach to municipalities, transit agencies, and school boards, and how they can borrow. This approach changed mindsets from a grant mentality to a credit mentality, all within the context of meeting environ- mental goals and commitments at multiple levels of government. Davies Ward Philips & Vineberg LLP acted for Canada Infrastructure Bank in its development of this first of its kind financing program, with a team that included Gregory Southam (infra- structure), Carol Pennycook (project finance), Dale Osadchuk (government reg ulation), Elisa Kearney (trade law), and Sarah Powell (environment). VALLEY FIBER, DIF CAPITAL, CIB PARTNER TO FUND MANITOBA FIBER PROJECT CLOSING DATE: AUGUST 6, 2021 Valley Fiber Ltd., DIF Capital Partners and Canada Infrastructure Bank part- nered to execute and deliver financing to support the Manitoba Fiber Project, a project to connect approximately 48,500 underser ved households in rural Manitoba with dedicated fibre-to- the-home cabling to improve internet connectivity and provide internet, tele- phone, and television ser vices. e project is expected to have a mean- ingful impact on the lives of the people of rural Manitoba. e construction of 2,657 kilometres of mainline fibre-optic cabling will provide a broadband service that will offer speeds up to one gigabit per second through state-of-the-art active ethernet technolog y, enhancing telecommunica- tions services for residents, creating jobs in business and public services, bringing digital equity to historically underserved rural areas, and transforming Manitoba's economic possibilities. e construction is already underway, and by 2024 it is anticipated that approximately 48,500 underserved house- holds in rural Manitoba will have access to dedicated fibre-to-the-home cabling, providing much-needed connectivity to some Canadian rural regions. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP acted for DIF Capital Partners and Valley Fiber with a team led by Greg Southam that included Anthony Spadaro, David White, Sarah Powell, Robyn Barabash, and Sawyer Swarek. McCarthy Tétrault LLP acted for Canada Infrastructure Bank with a team led by Lynn Parsons that included Samantha Cunliffe, Liezl Behm, Genevieve Loxley, and Selina Lee-Andersen. CANADA INFRASTRUCTURE BANK PROVIDES $300 MILLION LOAN FOR RÉSEAU EXPRESS MÉTROPOLITAIN PROJECT CLOSING DATE: JULY 26, 2021 Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) provided a loan of up to $300 million to build on its previous $1.3 billion invest- ment in the Réseau Express Métropolitain (R EM). CIB is investing in $35 billion of new revenue-generating infrastructure projects that are in the public interest, increase economic growth, and take action on climate change. CIB is a Canadian crown corporation that co-invests in infrastructure projects, specifically in public transit, trade and transportation, and green infrastructure. R EM is a light rail transit network currently under construction in Greater Montreal. e project will consist of 26 stations across the Greater Montreal area and will provide fast and direct service between downtown Montreal and Montreal–Trudeau International Airport. McCarthy Tétrault LLP acted as counsel to CIB with a team led by Etienne Guertin that included Jody Aldcorn, Marc-Antoine Addoumie, Mathieu LeBlanc, and Danielle Drolet. AVALON HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP WINS $330-MILLION ST. JOHN'S MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY CONTRACT CLOSING DATE: JULY 2021 On July 28, 2020, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador selected the Avalon Healthcare Partnership consor- tium to design, build, finance, and main- tain (DBFM) a new adult mental health and addictions hospital in St. John's. The facility will feature a 240,000 square- foot, six-storey, 102-bed hospital and includes a new parking garage along with a new 60-bed hostel. The DBFM contract is valued at $330 million. Construction on the parking garage was completed in late 2021, while construction of the hospital is anticipated to be complete by late 2024. The Avalon Healthcare Partnership consortium consists of 13 companies, including Plenary Americas LP, Marco/ Cahill Mental Health Partnership (a partnership of Marco Group Limited and G.J. Cahill & Company [1979] Limited) as design-builder, and G.J. Cahill & Company (1979) Limited as ser vice provider. Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP advised the Marco/Cahill Mental Health Partnership with a team consisting of Joel A. Heard (construction).