Thunder Bay event centre funds should go to new arena: Joe Virdiramo
Proposed event centre not eligible for federal infrastructure funding, mayor learned
With millions in the bank set aside for the project, the biggest question might be how to spend that money.
City manager Tim Commisso said $23 million was set aside for the proposed event centre.
"It's there for hopefully infrastructure," he said. "My view is, that's a decision that is, quite frankly, made if the project doesn't go ahead at budget time. Because then, you're looking at all of the needs right?"
Mayor Keith Hobbs announced the decision to scrap the plan on Monday, after receiving a letter from the federal government advising him the city was ineligible for federal funding for the project, including the use of the Federal Gas Tax.
'There are options'
Some on council, including Joe Virdiramo, said the funds should be set aside for its original purpose — building a new arena.
"I would hope that council would decide to keep some of that money or all of that money in that account in the event that we go ahead and we build a stand-alone facility to replace the Fort William Gardens," he said.
Virdiramo said he's hopeful the federal government may decide to fund the project after the fall election.
He noted the city could also redesign the building, so it would comply with any new federal or provincial funding programs.
"There are options, there are possibilities in redesign and taking a look at another type of structure that would comply with the provincial and federal funding."
He noted that, because it is an election year, the event centre might come back.
[Government] may "decide that they might fund some of things then. And, at that time, we will avidly work to try and find the funding that is necessary that would make the project work. I think that would be a good thing for the city," Virdiramo said.