To the editor:
Over the past weeks and months there has been a plethora of letters in the local media first about the proposed multiplex and now renamed civic events centre taking the appearance of a civilty war in the social media venue.
On March 1, 2012, as reported on TB Newswatch, Premier Dalton McGuinty, visited Thunder Bay and his repsonse when asked proposed events centre was there was a willingness to listen to the proposal.
The initial request for federal government funding for the construction of a multiplex was denied. Now city hall in my opinion must convince the federal government that the multiplex with an arena and multipurpose rooms is not that but an events centre with an arena with multipurpose rooms.
This surely will be a test of the intelligence quotient of the politicans and bureaucrats in the nation's capital.
There is the debatable point, the events centre will breathe economic revitialization to the north core. Does this entail the return of Eatons, McNultys or Royal Bank? Have the casino or provincial building brought forth the economic objectives initially proposed?
On March 12, 2012, the events centre consultants on TBT News stated that a new parkade would be required if the events centre were to be built in the north core.
If anything this illustrates that there is more to be investigated and discussed before any site is chosen, this is the initial planning stage of this project such as soil tests, refining project costs and the list goes on.
In discussion with city hall this project is 5 to 10 years down the road and if anything we should profit from our experience gained in the Waterfront Development project with its construction complexities and cost overruns.
This project in my opinion, is for Thunder Bay future which requires prudient total planning with consideration of this generation to the next, we should not be myopic in our visions.
Emil Pohler,
Thunder Bay
