The proposed $106-million dollar event centre is totally unaffordable.
Taxpayers will have to subsidize this facility for about $1.2 million to $1.4 million and by year five it will be closer to $1.5 - $ 1.8 million dollars according to phase 2 feasibily report.
City taxpayers cannot afford another penny in city taxes.
Thunder Bay, when you compare property value to the amount of taxes paid by city taxpayers is one of the highest taxed cities in Canada.
The city has absolutely not done their homework on this issue.
Here’s why:
1. The location chosen by the city is the worst and the most costly, despite what consultant Conrad Boychuk indicated in his report. He previously stated that downtown sites were usually more expensive builds.
Three large polls done by the Chronicle-Journal totalling over 5,000 responses clearly indicated that when the city is in a better position to build Innova Park is the people's choice and the most cost efficient.
The Concerned Taxpayers Poll of over 2,000 backs up the Chronicle-Journal polls and is the only direct poll ever conducted on this issue.
All the polls are consistent.
Innova Park is situated all on city land and unlike the Water Street Bus terminal, no additional property will have to be purchased. The infrustructure mess at the Water Street Bus Terminal site is totally irresponsible to even think.
This is not an issue at Innova Park.
2. Having a convention centre componnent in the event centre that will compete with private enterprize is totally unacceptable. This portion of the Event Centre will cost taxpayers well over $500,000 dollars to subsidize in the first year and by year five will be over $600,000 according to phase 2 feasibility study.
3. The cost of this facility has sky-rocketed from $50 million dollars to $106 million. The final cost is too scary to even think about.
The Essar Cenre in Sault Saint Marie was built for $25 million dollars in 2006 ($28.2 million dollars in 2014 dollars).
St.Catharine’s event centre, which is nearing completion, is about $50 million. Both of these facilities have a capacity between 5,000 and 6,500 for centre stage concerts and no convention centre.
4. The Fort William Curling Club still has 34 years left on their lease and is attached to the Fort William Gardens.
The Gardens cannot be demolished unless the city makes the curling club a stand alone facility or the city builds the Fort William Curling Club a new rink.
Taxpayers will be left subsidizing 2 buildings . The Gardens now has an operating deficit of more tha $500,000 a year and without its main tenant, the Lakehead hockey team, and news of much higher gas prices, what will the taxpayers be looking at to subsidize this building?
Taxpayers are reeling from higher tax rates and increased assessments and many are on the brink of financial disaster.
One thing is for sure.
Taxpayers in Thunder Bay have not had a vote on any of these issues.
They have been completly shut out.
Another thing is for sure.
Every poll done by the news media and backed up by the Concerned Taxpayers polls, indicates the vast majority of city taxpayers want a plebiscite.
Their voice must be heard as these are their tax dollars and as Mayor Keith Hobbs stated before being elected large ticket items over $100 million need to go to the public in the form of a plebiscite.
I have two questions for the Mayor Hobbs, council and city manager, Tim Commisso.
1. Do you have an agreement with the developer of the hotel guaranteeing the event centre be built at the Water Street location?
2. If no, why are you so afraid to let the taxpayers of Thunder Bay have a vote on the location or even if they want an event centre?
Ray Smith,
Thunder Bay
