Kinsley better get a head check if he thinks all us non-hockey fans are going to go out and support the Cougers because him and a bunch of Yahoo's built the CN Centre based on goofy numbers that anyone with a grade 2 education could have shown would be a bust. He better keep in mind that even if this building was built with taxpayers dollars it is a haven for the Cougers, and Other Private Enterprises who use it to make money, be it Charlie Pride, Bud the Spud, or any other Entertainer who comes here to make a buck, and that includes the Cougers. It is not the responsibility of taxpayers to subsidize these private business's. We do enough subsidizing for the Arts Centre, Aquatic Programs, Civic Centre, Library, and other facilities that are used by Taxpayers. Its time he quit trying to B.S. everyone into thinking we are responsible for filling the pockets of Private Enterprise. Where I spend my money is my business not Kinsleys and I suggest he get a grip on things.

If this building cannot make it on it own, then maybe it should be sold to Private Enterprise to run it, rather than trying to blackmail (or shame) city residents to support it by buying tickets, or raising taxes.

If the Cougers leave and I think they will if revenues do not increase then we have a real problem with this building. Thats what our Mayor should be thinking about instead of travelling around the World on Taxpayers dollars, pretending to be a Big Shot.

>"Mayor Kinsley made it clear, if residents of Prince George would like to see their taxes kept at current levels, then its important for residents to support organizations such as the Cougars."<

Some years ago we went to three Cougars games. Each time the Cougars were beaten by several goals to zero.

In other words, we never had the pleasure of seeing them score even a single goal!

Needless to say, we never went again.

Kinsley is wrong when he makes veiled threats of raising taxes just because we exercise our freedom of choosing our own type of entertainment!

Maybe the CN place should be sold and the revenue from the sale and the annual subsidies dedicated to fixing the abysmal roads in our city!

Of course, potholes and proper sidewalks are not his top priority, as we all know!

Those things are far too mundane and without any glamour to warrant the proper attention of our City Council.

Cougars aside, it seems to me that PG is not ready to support other entertainment which is and can be brought to that venue to the degree which makes it worthwhile for those entertainers and their promoters. I would like to see some comparison between us and Kamloops as well as Nanaimo, for instance.

The same as with the symphony, we cannot force people to attend or support particular types of activities.

So, what we are left with is subsidies to allow people to have a choice of activities, even though our population is too small to support some of those activities, especially given the lack of general support for any activity.

So, from my point of view, we support each other. How do we do that? Since I do not like hockey, or any spectator sport, for that matter, I am prepared to support them by an increase in taxes, as long as they will support others in supporting their activities which get hit more often than hockey - visiting the Art Gallery, attending symphonies, attending plays in a new Performing Arts Centre, etc.

If , not, then kill it all and send it over to private enterprise. I need equal treatment, and at the moment I feel people in this community are not being treated equally.

Roads …. Yes!!!! … there are some roads that are very nicely kept … University Way and Tyner Blvd. for instance, has virtually no potholes … same freeze thaw cycle as the rest of the city .. less traffic … better drainage for the former … newer pavement … hardly any expansion cracks visible while driving.

So, the weather is a factor, but it is always a factor, as are different traffic levels …. One simply has to build properly in the first place, and have an appropriate preventative maintenance schedule …. Those with heavier traffic simply need to be resurfaced more frequently …… and the cost will have to be factored in …. this should really be a no brainer to a road engineer.

>"What in the world does the Cougar's win record have to do with municipal taxes?"<

Ask the Mayor! He thinks that a winning team will attract more fans/attendance at each game and more revenue!

He is threatening to raise our taxes (his words) if we don't give more support to the team!

At least, that is what the story implied, in my opinion.

Am I missing something here???

Ed:"...but it sure sounds like a (silly) veiled threat."

"Silly" is the word alright! We are not going to buy hockey tickets for ourselves and out of town visitors (to treat them to something special) when the hockey game in all likelyhood will be just another thrashing of the home team!

Arrrrrgh!!!!