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It would be helpful if residents contacted their MP and expressed their disappointment.
From this side, and I guess on a practical note there are options to explore. And we have assets to put into play.
First: We have the land identified. And, the City owns it – we purchased it from the Province of Alberta (I still don’t fully understand why we had to purchase undevelopable land from the Province – but that was the deal offered and we took it!).
Second: The MSI funding set aside for the NW Recreation Centre remains in place.
Third: you will recall that the City “occupied” the tax space vacated by the Province in their Education requisition this year – the “tax grab” much ballyhooed by the media! The first thing Council did when this decision was taken was to set aside the “activity payments” or “mortgage payments” we expected to be responsible for under the 3P concept for 35 years. So that money is available to the next funding proposal – whatever that may look like.
Fourth: there has been a huge amount of work done by the Committee and the City alike to prepare to plan the facility. That work is not lost.
As quickly as we can after the Budget is settled I expect to meet with Administration to explore options.
Council is scheduled to do a very thorough Capital Budget review in January – and that timing is great as the planning period will overlap several of the longer term Capital Programs currently underway and whatever it is we recommend must be factored into the larger program.
Long story short – we have options – we have money – we have land and clearly we have the will to move forward – with or without the assistance of the other orders of Government.
So, STAY TUNED!
Gord Lowe |
