To the editor:
After the consulting firm tabled its Final Phase 2 Feasibility Study Report and the back slapping and cheering settled down, I was surprised not to hear a peep from the media about the cost of the project. The TOTAL cost of the project.
Up to now, the number that everyone is waving around to anyone who will listen is $106 million. Personally, I believe this number to be criminally high when you look at what other arenas are being built for today but OK, that is the price everyone has settled on, for now.
However, the Study Report divides costs into two categories: Direct and Indirect costs. The Direct cost is $106 million but the Indirect cost is $46 million and change. The TOTAL cost is $148 million and change.
Not to get into an argument about Direct and Indirect costs and what they are but suffice to say that seeing how the tab for this facility is being picked up by Dick and Jane Taxpayer, then ALL the costs, Direct and Indirect will also be picked up by the taxpayer, or the telephone company customer or the hydro customer or the gas customer. In Thunder Bay, they are all the same people.
I believe that when discussing the cost of building this facility, then the TOTAL cost should be quoted. The Total Cost estimate for the proposed event centre is $148 million.
All costs must be accounted for so all costs should be quoted. Even an estimated best guess figure is better than omitting a cost all together. The total price can be adjusted up or down as more information is known. Forty-six million dollars is a lot of money to simply ignore.
Jon Hutt,
Thunder Bay
