Multiplex brings benefits now and in future
By Mark MacDonald
Here are five good reasons to vote Yes for the events centre:
The city has indicated property taxes won’t rise to pay for an events centre. The total $80 million mortgage will be completely paid out in 20 years, due to a $5.4 million annual debt repayment. That comes from: community works fund, hotel tax increase, strategic infrastructure reserve, general revenues, and payments in lieu of taxes, covering the total annual payment.
A WHL team would be an anchor tenant. Western Hockey League commissioner Ron Robison issued a statement Tuesday repeating the league remains fully committed to delivering a WHL franchise here either through relocation or expansion and will move forward to obtain the necessary final approvals should there be a ‘yes’ vote. The WHL has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the city, and team ownership will include local investment. A WHL team would give the events centre 40 bookings each year.
It’s an investment in our community. It would replace 43-year-old Frank Crane Arena, and become a gathering place for entertainment and events, as well as being a catalyst for downtown investment. A great example is Kelowna, which built its facility in a run-down, industrial section of town a block from Okanagan Lake.
That was the first step in revitalizing the area, which now includes a major hotel and casino across the street, waterfront parks and an amphitheatre. New condos have been built nearby, restaurants have opened and the city has upgraded several buildings. That could happen here, too.
Events will come here. The city is in discussions with Spectra, Canada’s largest public assembly facility management company that oversees facilities in Kelowna, Penticton and Victoria. They could manage the events centre, VICC and the Port Theatre together. As their clients make stops in other B.C. venues, a stop in Nanaimo would also be a strong consideration. Why wouldn’t performers like Elton John, Michael Bublé, Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, Bryan Adams come here?
Snuneymuxw First Nation negotiations. SFN is in the process of negotiations with the city regarding the events centre. SFN must be involved in the process and they are, and if this is built, its close proximity could be good for their future development plans.
Voting ‘yes’ will be a positive step forward now, and for generations to come.
Mark MacDonald is publisher of the Business Examiner.
A 'no' vote is a chance to get project right
By Jennifer Davidson
On March 11, Nanaimo residents and taxpayers go to the polls to decide if they want to fund the largest capital project in the history of this city. This will be one of the most important decisions you ever make for your city.
There have been many claims and counter-claims made in this debate. Visit www.novote2017.com to cut through the noise.
Ultimately, however, this referendum is about opportunity. A ‘no’ vote on March 11 does not say ‘no’ to an event centre forever. A ‘no’ vote is an opportunity to do this right.
You are being asked to pay for a barely consulted, poorly planned, badly located, questionably financed WHL arena, one that is being rushed so we can meet the arbitrary deadlines of rich hockey franchise owners from elsewhere. If you vote ‘no,’ you are giving Nanaimo the opportunity to build a true community space, as part of a real community plan. You are giving Nanaimo the opportunity to find private, federal and provincial funding partners, to take some of the burden off you, the Nanaimo taxpayer. You are giving Nanaimo the opportunity to consider what investments are best for the whole city, what will help our economy grow, what will help our children stay in Nanaimo and raise our grandchildren here.
This is your opportunity to stop the tax increases, increased city debt, and reduced city services that are the inevitable end result of borrowing $80 million, which does not include interest, cost overruns or operational subsidies.
This is your opportunity to choose a better location for an event centre, not on our last piece of downtown waterfront land, that will need millions spent in remediation, seismic upgrades, and parking. None of which is included in the budget you have been shown.
This is your opportunity to avoid an unacceptable level of risk, risk that you will end up paying for. The city has no credible business plan, and is using unrealistic ticket sales and attendance figures, provided by paid salesmen trying to sell us a WHL arena that will be a burden on this city for decades to come.
This is your opportunity to demand real consultation, proper planning and better funding.
This is your opportunity. Take it. Vote ‘no’ so we can take our time and get what is best for our community.
Jennifer Davidson is a member of No Vote 2017.