THUNDER BAY – City councillors are looking to regroup and rethink what the city should do with its Renew Thunder Bay fund.
The $23 million fund was set aside to leverage funding from the federal and provincial government for its proposed event centre, a plan effectively put on hold Monday after the city found out the federal government said Thunder Bay can't use gas tax funding to build it.
Coun. Larry Hebert, who voted against proceeding with the event centre last Thursday, said even people opposed to the project recognize that the city needs a new arena at some point. Renew Thunder Bay should be left for that purpose, maybe even with new money added every year.
"We still have to replace the gardens at some point in the future so I'd like to see (renew Thunder Bay) stay there with that in mind whether it's just a stand-alone rink or whatever," Hebert said.
Hebert wants the city to look at what federal gas tax money could be used for, maybe a youth centre or a south-side 55 Plus centre before dipping into Renew Thunder Bay.
Coun. Paul Pugh said council will no doubt discuss the issue at its next meeting April 13.
"I think it requires some reflection where we're going to go. Eventually we do have to do something about a facility of this type," he said.
Like other councillors, Pugh said a federal election could change the rules for funding eligibility though and the city might decide to go ahead with the event centre.
"We might as well wait to see if there's going to be a regime change in Canada and if there is then the whole thing is up for discussion again," he said.
As for Coun. Shelby Ch'ng, she'd like community input on how the money should be used.
"I don't believe we should make it rain for everybody in Thunder Bay for every small project but this money really needs to be leveraged with other levels of government funding," she said.
"I think we should start doing some more prospecting and seeing what else is out there."
Ch'ng also suggested using some of the annual tbaytel dividend to replenish Renew Thunder Bay. But she's hoping council discusses those options after April 13's meeting.
"I think we needs some big closure on (the event centre). This was a huge issue for our city," she said.
There is a way the city could keep a part of Renew Thunder Bay to eventually replace the gardens while using some of it for other strategic projects Coun. Frank Pullia said. He wants council to make a list of priority projects and see what's available.
"Absolutely we need to develop a set of priorities and leverage as much other government money that's available to us that was the idea," he said.
"Obviously we would rather see one of our dollars leverage two of their dollars. That would be the ideal situation."
The gardens doesn't need to be replaced right away. Leveraging part of Renew Thunder Bay for other projects could make sense Pullia said, especially if there is enough time to plan and make sure funding is there.
"Does it have to be done tomorrow or a year from now? No. we can plan for the future," he said.
For Coun. Rebecca Johnson, the money should stay where it is and collect interest until council, and more importantly the community, decides what should be done with it.
"What does the community think we should do with this money? It is their money," Johnson said.
Decisions also still need to be made on the event centre and rather the city will eventually proceed with the plan.
