The City of Thunder Bay has produced a letter in which FedNor director general Aime Dimatteo directs the city to apply for event centre funding through the Build Canada federal gas-tax fund.
The letter, dated Jan. 21, 2015, denied the city $3 million from FedNor to support the move to Phase 5 of the development.
“I would suggest that the municipality include these costs in its future application under the Build Canada Federal Gas Tax Fund,” Dimatteo writes.
Earlier on Tuesday the minister in charge of FedNor, Kenora’s Greg Rickford, said the federal government had made it perfectly clear all along Ottawa would not fund an arena and convention centre, telling city officials late last month it would consider a standalone convention centre under newly altered gas-tax rules.
“The federal government, through FedNor and through Minister Rickford, advised us to go after gas-tax funding,” Mayor Keith Hobbs said, reached via phone.
“For Minister Rickford to be saying (this) now – the letter says it all, as far as I’m concerned.”
Rickford countered on Tuesday morning that the federal government was on board for a convention centre, and would even consider supporting an arena project, but only if a professional or semi-professional team was not part of the equation.
The Winnipeg Jets last year partnered with the city, saying they might move their American Hockey League team to Thunder Bay if a facility was built.
Rickford then challenged critics to point to a city where they’d strayed from that formula.
Hobbs said the city’s plan has been clear all along.
“We gave them a design for one building,” he said.
FedNor initially supported the first stages of the project to the tune of $827,139, including detailed design, a refined business plan and site selection.
“They want us to build two buildings now,” Hobbs said.
“That was never in the plans. That was never in any of the designs or concept phases and FedNor funded us all the way along.”
Hobbs said he intends to bring the event centre back before council on Monday night to request a report from administration seeking other options.
Earlier this year Hobbs suggested scaling back the project and city council was told last month a standalone rink would cost $80 million.
The province has said it will not provide money unless there are matching federal dollars.
Note to readers: You may view a .pdf copy of the letter below. For a closer look, use the zoom tools at the bottom.
