Thunder Bay council agonizes over event centre funding

Superior Morning5:12Council debates Event Centre funding

Phase 4 of the process to build an event centre for Thunder Bay has been approved by City Council. We hear some of the debate

The Phase 3 plans for Thunder Bays new event centre have been passed by city council but not without a lengthy debate.

City councillors in Thunder Bay spent hours at their meeting Monday night, hashing out how to proceed with funding for the proposed event centre.

An approval would allow administration to lobby the federal and provincial governments for funding.

Councillor Joe Virdiramo summed up what many around the council table repeatedly said.

"The figures haven't changed so, my position has been, ok, we go for it if we get the money.' That's what we're being asked. We're going to be here until 2-3 a.m., asking the same questions, over and over again.

Coun. Linda Rydholm said shes convinced that the city is not eligible for enough funding from theNorthern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and FedNor.

But city manager Tim Commisso disagreed. He said federal and provincial government officials have been very encouraging of the city to apply to the funding bodies.

They'll work with us to position it for a more significant review."

Consider a delay?

The suggestion to delay the construction of the facility came up several times .

"What if we said it was 10 years out, just for an example, Coun. Rebecca Johnson said.

What would be the potential costs of this in 10 years?

According to a consultant working on the project, a decade-long delay could mean the cost of the event centre would double.

The debate ended after Councillor Aldo Ruberto called the question, forcing council to vote on the subject.

Only Linda Rydholm opposed the plan.

Ken Boshcoff abstained, saying he was disappointed in his council colleagues, because he didn't get a chance to ask all of his questions.

Building an event centre means Thunder Bay property taxes will rise 1.1 per cent, or about $18.11 for every $100,000 in residential assessment.

The city wants to have contracts in place with builders and architects by the end of March.

If all goes according to the current plan, the event centre would open in about three years.