Would be nice for the tax payers to actually have a say on how their taxes are spent, bizarre thought with the state of politics these days but still would be nice.

I support the referendum idea. If the city doesn’t have provincial and federal partners as well as private partners for the project then that should also be indicated on the referendum question, as well as the operating costs. Voters should have all the most updated information to work with; whether good bad or what ever.

Eagleone: Good morning. That would be nice but I don’t think voters would spend the time to go through all that. The time to put that information forward would be before the vote date.

Ben, I’m just wondering if Madam Mayor is of an such an attitude as to take whatever your polls say and do exactly the opposite?
Just wondering.

It won’t be a question on the ballot because it is going to be a long time before any concrete steps are taken to get this project off the ground. The building of the PAC is not even really the issue since it is supposed to be funded from 4 different sources, but the fact that taxpayers from this city will be charged with maintaining the building at the tune of 300k per year is what I am against. IF this is truly a facility for the region, they let the region pay the upkeep as well.

Now I think we the public should have access to their business plan. Building the building, we get federal, provincial and regional input. Its the operating costs that concerns me.

Has anyone seen a business plan, or is done by the seat of there pants method. Believing you build it and the people will come…. were still waiting for the airport to take off!!!!!

I think the question has to be clear, and the information is provided before hand to the public, so we can make a informed decision.

Get the information on the website so we can talk about it in the coffee rooms of Prince George.

I am not fully opposed to the PAC, they need to provide a business plan, for public scrutiny.

Anyone who wishes to see a business plan, etc; for the Performing Arts Centre, can visit the Prince George Performing Arts Centre Society’s website. They will find all the information that is available at this time in regards to this project.

It takes some time to read and comprehend, however at the end of the day, one would (in by opinion) have to conclude that this is a huge expenditure of tax dollars with very little or no return on investment. There is absolutely no doubt that the operating and maintenance costs per year would be in the area of $500,000.00.

It seems that those in favour of the project have little or no concern about the expenditure of tax dollars.

Let there be no doubt, that this project is well on its way to being built, and will get into high gear after this years municipal elections.

Anyone who thinks that the City will go to a referendum on this issue is living in a dream world. A referendum or an Alternative Approval Process loss would kill the project, and they are not about to take that risk.

So, is essence we are being bamboozled with our own money.

We need some specifics from the City, as to updated costs of this facility, where the revenue to build it will come from, and how much it will cost to operate it on a yearly basis.

We then need to have those who are running for Council/Mayor to state their position, and to indicate whether they are in favour of spending our tax dollars on this facility.

Never mind the humming and hawing. Lets hear them state emphatically they they support spending $52 Million dollars on a PAC while our infrastructure is crumbling, and we are being taxed to the hilt.

If a PAC is built, how much money will our city earn from it? Be specific. If there is no money to be earned and just a feeling of being entertained well I doubt how any person (capitalist) can justify such an expense. Ontario has twice the debt of Californee so why should the taxpayers here be any different? Get on board the debt train, folks. It’s only on paper.

Harbinger, If another sports complex is built, how much money will our city earn from it? Be specific.
No hockey rink or any other sporting faciity breaks even, let alone makes money.
But somehow sports are eagerly suported, while any cultural or artistic performances are expected to be self suporting. Why then give our children music lessons or any expose them to other forms of freedom of expression.

IMO

We dont need a referendum.
City Council should step-up and do the job they were elected to do.
Get out there,figure out what the people want,and then do it.

They need to TALK to the people.
This world has become so detached that no-one wants to interact.

PS:I do not want a publicly built PAC
let the private sector build it if it’s such a good idea.

Quite frankly I’m not sure why the City is even bothering with the PAC venture. If this site can be used as a barometer of PG temperament, people would whine, bitch and stamp their feet if it was only a $1million dollar expense.

There wasn’t near this level of venom spewed over the Kin renovation… oh right… sports venue.

There already are other performing arts facilities available in PG. The Prince George Playhouse, Theatre North West being examples.

City Mayor and Council need to start listening to the “people” who live here on some of these issues and not just business.

“There already are other performing arts facilities available in PG. The Prince George Playhouse, Theatre North West being examples.”

There’s already plenty of sports facilities available in PG. What’s your point? Oh right… sports good, performing arts bad.

and btw… TNW is not a facility as only that group can utilize the space. And don’t say Vanier because SD57 owns that, not the City.

So that leaves, the playhouse as the only civic performing arts facility.

There won’t be any PAC until the Federal and Provincial portions of the construction cost are confirmed. And the last I heard, there wasn’t a huge appetitite for such projects.

“let the private sector build it if it’s such a good idea”

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What is with this notion that something only qualifies as “good” if it can attract the interest of the private sector?

Pylot, I believe you had posted before that you live in the GVA. Tell me how many people in that area spend money & time to go to sporting events versus art events? I’ve been to many concerts, theatre productions etc. in Vancouver over the years & I can tell you that the attendance compared to sporting events in not even in the ball park (pun intended). PG does have a lot more sporting facilities than art venues, but so do pretty much every place in North America. Your Orwellian comparison just isn’t fair as you could transpose Prince George with any North American city & have the same results when comparing sports to art.
I agree, PG does need a better venue for performing arts as do a lot of people here, just not on the scale that the PAC committee wants.

Pylot states: “There wasn’t near this level of venom spewed over the Kin renovation… oh right… sports venue.”

That and more Pylot, try a Canada Winter Games venue as well.

detoe42.. “Your Orwellian comparison just isn’t fair”.

It’s not Orwellian, I know the ratio of sports to arts support is not 50/50, but I will be perfectly blunt. The PG theatre facilities suck.

I know this from numerous years experience on both sides of the curtain in the Playhouse and Vanier Hall. Staging anything in PG is a joke, as none of the theatres have a decent fly tower, green rooms, or stage wing depth. Plus the seating is old and decrepit.

PG does not need a grandiose facility, but the city does need one that functions properly. All I’d be asking is that this be given the same consideration that any sports facility in PG would get. When was the last reno on the Playhouse? 20+ years ago?

I would think the main issue that should matter would be questions about support. Like just how many people would use or support a PAC on a regular basis. Why do you think there is so much support for sports facilities in PG? People USE them on a regular basis. Would a PAC be utilized the same?

Don’t even get going on the Winter games. PG can’t afford those either.

Pylot: “PG does not need a grandiose facility, but the city does need one that functions properly. All I’d be asking is that this be given the same consideration that any sports facility in PG would get. When was the last reno on the Playhouse? 20+ years ago?”

Now you’re on the right track! I think a reno (either to the Playhouse or Vanier Hall) would be an easier sell to most people than a completely new facility.

“I would think the main issue that should matter would be questions about support. Like just how many people would use or support a PAC on a regular basis.”

The number of people doesn’t really matter. What matters (after it gets built) is what is it going to cost to operate and maintain, plus pay the interest/principal on the money borrowed to build it in the first place?

As I always say, that money has to come from somewhere, either through tax increases or service cuts. So far, I haven’t seen any real numbers in that regard.

This will likely please most of you, but this will be my last post on this subject, then I will forever hold my opinion to myself with regards to a better performing arts centre in PG.

I’ve come to the realization that the vast majority of PG residents really don’t care. I don’t even live in PG any longer, so why should I care so passionately about the city improving? My family still lives there, so I guess that’s where most of it comes from. Plus I was involved for a number of years in the performing arts in PG and would like a better place for my past fellow “thespians” to practice their craft, as well having a great place to enjoy the arts for the audiences.

I have to say, the silence from those in the performing arts community is deafening, whether it be performer or audience member. I see few words from those involved on this forum, yet I have heard from these same people for years about how facilities could and should be better. Where are your voices now? Why am I and a few other the only ones with pro-PAC opinions? I have nothing to gain from my opinions. I shake my head sometimes with frustration.

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This is last bit is intended for Ben directly. It was bad enough that you had zero coverage of the Prince George Dance Festival on this site. Appalling doesn’t even begin to cover it.

It’s now a few days later, and where are the announcements of the local PG dancers that are going to the Provincial Championships? Nowhere to be found. The lack of arts coverage on this site is truly an embarrassment. Yes it’s your site and you can do whatever you feel like. It just shows your true colours.

Pylot, the Orwellian I was referring to was part of your post, “sports good, performing arts bad.” I thought you were making a reference to Animal Farm. ;)