Council hears province’s ‘asks’ on Convention Centre deal
Posted Oct 19, 2010 03:59:36 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Dexter government set off a firestorm at City Hall Tuesday afternoon, as council officially received the ‘ask’ from the province on the convention centre.
Some of the things on the province’s list of requests weren’t a surprise, including cost-sharing, the lease length, and the situation with the old convention centre.
But the province is asking for exemption on property taxes on the convention centre portion.
“We do not interfere with the province’s revenue flows, they certainly should be not interfering with our revenue flows,” said Kelly. “We have to make that very clear.”
South End Councillor Sue Uteck says she is stunned by the surprise request.
“It’s stinking like Commenwealth Games all over again,” says Uteck. “We’re asked to be a partner but we’re going to be dictated the terms.”
However Downtown Councillor Dawn Sloane says that’s that way it is.
“We are a child of the province and they can ask ask us and tell us what to do,” says Sloane. “I like the fact that they are requesting that means we can actually negotiate.”
Some councillors mused that the province isn’t actually serious about the project.
“If I didn’t want to do something, I’d put conditions in that would jam somebody else into refusing it and making someone else look like the bad guy,” says Herring Cove Councillor Steve Adams. “That is perfectly clear here. The province knows full well that our revenues come from property taxes.”
Council voted to have staff look over the full request and engage in negotiations with the province, returning to council November 9.
