To the editor:
Why do we need a plebiscite on the location and building of a new multiplex/event centre?
“The proposal involves building a $50-60 million facility with about 5500 seats," it was reported in December 2009. The present cost is $106-million-plus
“The city’s share of the estimated $60-million project is $18 million, it was written in a local editorial in 2010. The city's share is now estimated to be $35 million or more.
Why is building this facility such an urgency?
"As an arena, it could go for another 20 to 30 years,but the condition of Fort William Gardens isn’t the issue”, community services manager Greg Alexander told TB Newswatch in May 2010.
"I think that’s already a done deal and I don’t think it should be a done deal," said now Mayor Keith Hobbs in September 2010.
"I think that should go to a plebiscite," he said, adding that the electorate should vote on any big-ticket items. "It’s going to be a $100-million expense by the time we get there. It’s $100 million right now."
“Clearly the downtown site we see as a great opportunity, if we can do it without having to acquire more parking,” said Commisso to Northern Ontario Business in 2011.
A parkade. Surprise.
It's been reported that an estimate puts a parkade price tag with 500 spaces at $16 million.
Shouldn’t this have eliminated this location as cost-prohibitive?
At election time, Hobbs said he’s been hearing loud and clear that people want to see the centre at Innova Park.
"The public has to make this decision, not the council, not the mayor," Hobbs was quoted as saying. "We’re going to take the advice from public on this one."
Look at what the Chronicle-Journal's editorial board wrote just two years ago:
“Hobbs thinks the fix is in among consultants and city administrators to arrange that in order to assure the waterfront district gets the multiplex.”
Really Keith? Most people think this as well.
"It has to be affordable and it has to be sustainable. If we don't receive funding from the feds and the province, this is going to be a no-go. I know I'm hearing loud and clear that we need federal and provincial money to make it go forward," the mayor told TB Newswatch in late 2011.
The cost has doubled since first proposed, projected operating costs are nearly double that of Fort William Gardens. Is that really affordable and sustainable?
“I have stated before I was elected mayor that the [eople of Thunder Bay need to decide this issue and I haven't nor will I change my view on this," is what he told me in an email in 2012.
Well Keith, if you really are a man of your word, let's have a plebiscite. You did say the electorate should vote on any big-ticket items. It is quite clear why we need to have a plebiscite on both, proceeding with this facility and the location of this facility.
Bigger and more difficult questions to answer honestly are, Why wouldn’t you have one and why is council continuing to stonewall the public on this?
Jeff Caldwell,
Thunder Bay
