LETTER: Citizens paying more, getting less

To the editor:

I certainly agree with Raymond A. Smith that our roads or deplorable. 

Yet again we must all pay more in taxes while our city deteriorates further, leaving many citizens feeling like captive cash cows for city council. After reading Mr Smith’s opinion, I noted the article ‘City Reviewing Options’.

No sooner does our Ontario government include Building Ontario Up in its budget, giving Thunder Bay an estimated $25 million per year over the next decade for transportation and infrastructure projects does city hall immediately consider using the money for major projects, (none of which are named) including the possibility of the event centre.

Am I the only citizen wondering just how much money could be used for roads, sidewalks, sewers, trees etc and how much will be spent towards the event centre – that’s in addition to the money from TbayTel?

I believe the TbayTel amount of $20 million (remember that?) could have been spent improving our community – the place where we live and pay those high taxes! 

But that hotelier (remember them?) must be insisting on solid confirmation regarding the event centre before their construction starts.

Karen Nystrom
Thunder Bay