Why No Referendum On The PAC? It’s Our Money
The latest cost estimate for a Performing Arts Center should make even those committed to the idea, look at whether the project is a good idea in city.
The latest report shows the project would cost $51.05 million. Of course that does not consider any overruns, which we can expect. Add to that the $404 thousand dollar subsidy to operate the facility every year, and it shouldn't take too much consideration to realize that this is way over what our citizens can afford, or want.
We are constantly told that the federal and provincial governments will each come up with 30% of the cost of the project, the city's 30% would be about $12 million.
Perhaps the council of the day doesn't remember what happened at the Northern Sports Center. The feds never said they were coming up with their 30% and in fact when the dust had settled they didn't, and so the city and UNBC were stuck with the balance. So to somehow suggest that the feds are going to pony up on this occasion is sheer speculation, and I might add not every good speculation.
That leaves the province and the city. We all know how the city will finance their portion. That will come from the land sale , Terasen Gas, or raising the taxes. The Terasen gas deal was not undertaken to build a PAC but this council is not putting their foot down to ensure that the money goes where it was originally earmarked.
That leaves yet another component, the private sector. Everyone expects the major corporations to come to the party with their check book. Many of those corporations have already given to for example, the Cancer Clinic, an area where they see more need. Quietly, company bosses have been saying, off the record, that it is not a project that they will support. So it might be incumbent upon those members of the PAC to see just what is the mood of the corporations before going any further or is it a matter of they don't want to hear what might be said?
The Ford Center, in Vancouver, and the PAC In Nanaimo are both examples of why the taxpayers of this city are not buying into this project.
If the city brass and councillors feel such a burning need for the PAC, then a simple question on a referendum at this fall's municipal election to go along with the fluoridation of the water question , would be in order to settle the matter for once and for all. Problem is that none of the above want to do that knowing full well the PAC would be defeated, they are instead hoping to push the project ahead behind the scenes.
A number of the councillors are already at risk of losing their seats from a taxpayer who doesn't like the manner in which they have been looking after this city. Failing to give the taxpayers a say in the PAC will simply add a few more names to those who will not be sitting at the council table following the municipal election.
I' m Meisner and that's one man's opinion
Comments
I don’t support a PAC at this time. PG has some of the highest interest rate risk in the country with our debt levels. If interest rates only go back to the 50 year average then we are looking at another 20 million a year to service the debt.
I think PG should take a four year break from capital projects. Pay down the debt and try and cut it in half over the next four years. If the city can get the debt down below 40million then have that as a trigger level for a referendum on a PAC during the next municipal election in 2018.
As it stands now the PAC proposal is driven by downtown real estate considerations more than anything and IMO that should be a huge red flag for the home owners that will be paying for it.
I am so happy the millions of dollars dike down river road got killed by some hard working people I never thanked. Thanks to the people fighting PAC.
AXE the PAC
There is only one way to find out what the citizens want: Put the PAC proposal to a referendum! It is the democratic thing to do! It is also the respectful thing to do! The refusal to put it to a referendum is based on what? On strongly expressed public opinions that a majority does not want it at this time? Like Rodney Dangerfield famously said: I can’t get no respect!
Eagleone has the right idea.
That seems to be the answer for everything. Have a referendum.
How about having the people we elect do some actual leading? They should know that it isn’t the right project at this time. We have debt to pay down. We have infrastructure to maintain.
It’s more a reflection on our weak leadership that we feel the need to call for referendums on these issues.
Assuming we have 12 million to spare, we can reduce annual interest cost by $400,000, and with the $404,000 subsidy to a PAC not on the books we can pave $804,000 a year, forever. Or replace sidewalks, or sewers, or any one of many needed projects.
A select group that has the ear of council wants it, and they want every one else to pay for it. Which is the Canadian way.
Ben makes a good point with the so called private money. Canfor has a budget for how much they’ll spend on community projects, and if it goes to a PAC, it doesn’t go somewhere else, which may include an upgrade to medical equipment we could all use.
Also, although my evidence is anecdotal, the younger medical professionals that I have met, didn’t come to PG with the hope of seeing Nutcracker Suite in a PAC. They came for reasonable housing cost, lots of outdoor recreation, slower paced lifestyle. If they want to see ballet, they’re wealthy enough to hop onto Westjet and see it elsewhere.
A PAC is like installing a mancave in your basement while you’re roof is still leaking – fun to have, but a solid roof is the better plan
When leadership thinks they know what’s best for the city and its citizens, they don’t want to hear the word “no” or be made to look like fools by putting a pet project out there only to be shot down by the very citizens they claim to be doing this for.
Perhaps we should wait for a FIRM proposal with FIRM costs identified, and FIRM commitments of funding from the senior levels of government, and FIRM commitments from the private donors that are supporting it. At that time we will have a clear picture of what building a PAC will cost, and what the operating costs will be. Then it would be appropriate to have a referendum based on a clearly worded question that is based on FACT! Then and only can can the taxpayer make an informed decision!
Agreed NyteHawwk, that makes the most sense by far.
while i support the idea of some kind of new structure in town to support arts and culture, i also can’t imagine why this is necessary right now. there is absolutely NO WAY that this organization will be able to find private companies and corporations willing to invest 12 million dollars into this thing. CN pays next to nothing for naming rights on the multiplex, so even selling it as the coca cola PAC would only be a drop in the bucket. i can’t even imagine what company would want to sink millions of dollars into a PAC in a community 800kms north of Vancouver with a population of 71000. what kind of return would a company get by doing so? maybe we could call it the canfor-walmart-save-on-pepsi-finning-CN-enbridge PAC?
pave sidewalks, streets, maybe a few more trails, fix up seasons, etc, etc, etc…there are many ways to improve the lives of people in PG without building a PAC and without spending 51 million(!). servicing debt is never the sexy thing to do, we all know that, but it’s almost always the smartest.
possibly another reason there is so much opposition in PG to the PAC is the apparent arrgance of the PAC society. I heard kirk gable on CBC radio this morning and was a little taken aback by his attitude and his reasoning as to why no other venues in town are suitable anymore. sorry kirk, your words are having the opposite of the intended effect.
I also agree with johnnybelt. a referendum isn’t necessary. I think the general opinion towards the PAC is pretty obvious, and these useless council members need to stop thinking about how they’ll fare in the election if they take a stand and just make a goddamn decision, based on the opinion of their constituents.
JB:”That seems to be the answer for everything. Have a referendum. How about having the people we elect do some actual leading?”
Well JB, how do you persuade them to do some actual leading? By making 15 minute time limited presentations before a council whose minds are usually completely made up?
EAGLEONE should run for Mayor or Council. If he’s as common sense as he sounds, he would get my vote. We need more common sense folks on Council- Green and company have not left us in any bettter financial position than we were before the last election.
I”m with ski50. The professionals in this town can afford to hop on a plane and head to Vancouver/Calgary and see the big show that PG can’t offer.
Let’s get the basics covered in this City first. Look at the 2011 Census stats in related article. Population of PG is at 71,000 people…..yikes.
I’m sure most of us PG people remember when PG was 80,000 strong and growing. Looks like we are shrinking. Part of that problem is an image of a City that doesn’t look too nice, rough roads and high crime.
I think we are in a much better place than 2011. Crime is way down, the roads are getting worked on and even though I’m not a big winter games guy the businesses are making their businesses look nice. PG is starting to look great.
PAC……maybe when they come to the table with half the money in hand or PG grows to 100,000 people to justify it.
JB. What referendums are you talking about??? As far as I know there has been only one in the past 10 years (more or less) and that was the Teresan Gas lease in lease out agreement. Then of course there was the amalgamation referendum in the early 70’s.
If you know of some others then by all means elucidate.
Multiplex and swimming pool were referendum. They passed. Odd PAC group doesn’t have same trust in voters to make right decision
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