Skip to content

LETTER: Add tax to downtown business sales to cover event centre costs

To the editor: There seems to be no stopping the proposed new event centre from going ahead at the north core site. I don’t think it is the right choice.

To the editor:

There seems to be no stopping the proposed new event centre from going ahead at the north core site. 

I don’t think it is the right choice.  Even though we are a city of 110,000 people, our two downtown cores developed at a rate for cities of 45,000. 

So I don’t think we have the room or infrastructure to handle an event centre of this size in the proposed area.  Because of that I don’t think you can fairly compare our situation to cities of similar size that developed a ‘proper’ downtown. 

Whether people want to admit it or not, parking will become an issue and citizens living in the neighbourhood will suffer the same fate as those living close to the Fort William Gardens; residential streets lined with parked cars.  But I digress as this seems to be a foregone conclusion anyway.

The biggest argument for it being built in the north core is that it is the ‘entertainment district’ of Thunder Bay.  Since this events centre will benefit many businesses in the ‘entertainment district’, maybe the city can look in to how to generate more revenue from everyone visiting the area? 

How about introducing an ‘entertainment sales tax’ to all businesses located in the designated area?  That way the city can generate some additional funds to help offset the operating cost of the new event centre?  And this way those who will benefit and enjoy the event centre (including those visiting from surrounding municipalities and don't pay property tax in Thunder Bay) are helping contribute to the cost.  I am sure visitors to the event centre and surrounding businesses won’t mind paying an additional two to three per cent more to their restaurant and bar cheques to help the cause. 

Add the tax to the ticket prices as well for events (concerts, hockey games, trade shows, etc).  Any hotel in the ‘entertainment district’ can collect the ‘EST’ as well. 

Retail stores can collect the tax too.  If the new event centre is going to be the draw and economic generator that the proponents and consultants say it is, this would generate some much needed funds for operating expenses. 

Just a thought. 

Lawrence Deswiage,
Owner/Operator,
A&W Restaurants,
Thunder Bay





push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks