OPINION: Word at the door

Around kitchen tables, during coffee breaks and in barbershops all over town, the electorate is talking and asking questions.
That’s what was happening around our kitchen table the other day when the doorbell rang.

It was a timely visit by our incumbent councillor and we decided to continue our discussion at the door.

Now, I have been known to grumble and criticize and visitors may sometimes be subjected to one of my well-intentioned rants.
However, this visit was different – as we listened to a very positive message about challenges the city faces and possible solutions, there was no need to rant or rave.

We found it refreshing to hear a mindful, thoughtful message instead of the insults and trash talk that passes for campaigning in some camps.

When we questioned the actions and decisions of council she respected and supported our opinions but she also noted the hard work of all councillors.

It was just a quick chat but facts and figures were shared with us that are sometimes missing in the messages delivered by city hall.
And from my recent observation, no issue is missing more information and causing more uncertainty than the proposed new event centre.

Judging from what I see, read and hear at my door, at my table and from the man in the street, this project is morphing into yet another divisive issue.

There is a strong feeling that this is a flawed decision and now is definitely not the time to saddle future councils with lavish expenditures.

I hear often that this new ice palace/convention mecca is being shoved down Thunder Bay’s throat and citizens are expected to hold their noses and swallow.

And although I agree with my incumbent that there are good, hard-working people on council, public dissent is patronized at best – often it is ridiculed and then completely ignored.

I don’t trust the politics surrounding this issue, especially since the mayor himself flip-flopped on his election promise of a plebiscite.

At best, I don’t feel the citizens of Thunder Bay have been given the whole story so I’ve been looking for additional information myself.
First of all, it has never been clearly stated that investing public funds for economic impact is risky business just like any other leveraged investment.

Economic spinoffs are being dangled in front of our noses but there are absolutely no guarantees and a real possibility of negative financial effects.

If things go sour Thunder Bay will be stuck with a construction debt for the next 20 years, not to mention huge operating costs.
Abbotsford, B.C. is used as an example of what can happen when new event centres go wrong although some local councillors have dismissed this case as irrelevant.

Desperate for a tenant for their new arena, Abbotsford lured an AHL franchise by agreeing to cover the team’s losses for 10 years.
The Abbotsford Heat played five seasons in front of empty seats – losses so far are $12.2 million including $7 million to cover lost revenues.

The city finally decided to pull the plug but will have to pay another $5.5 million as a termination fee – buyers beware.

The city of Abbotsford gambled against long odds and lost – local casino-goers will recognize that sinking feeling.

I hope the mayor is right and this project will be an economic boom for the city – if he isn’t, we will be stuck with another white elephant just like Big Thunder.

I also hope everybody has a chance to discuss this intelligently and positively with their own councillor before the election.
And that’s the word at the door.