THUNDER BAY-- Ontario's minister of tourism, culture and sport gave Mayor Keith Hobbs some event centre homework to complete.
Eleanor McMahon on Friday said while there is no progress to report on the $114.6-million proposed facility and any potential funding from the province, she has provided the mayor with some advice on what steps to take next to track down elusive funding to pay for the project.
Essentially she’s put the ball back in Ottawa’s hands.
“There’s no progress to tell you about today, but there are certainly expectations. I wouldn’t want to raise expectations too highly because it’s a huge investment for us. But it doesn’t mean we’re closing the door,” McMahon said.
“Far to the contrary, I think we’re having some good conversations about it. I did speak to the mayor and suggested he talk to my federal colleagues and counterparts and I’m happy to mention it to them as well.”
A lack of funding commitments from the federal and provincial governments has stalled the project for more than a year.
The city originally suggested an equal funding partnership with senior levels of government, the city and private partners committing the other third.
An agreement in principle was in place to bring the American Hockey League’s St. John’s Ice Caps as the facility’s main tenant, but when funding fell through, the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets instead moved its farm club to the Manitoba capital.
Both the province and the feds rejected the city’s original proposal, Ottawa under both the Liberals and Conservatives saying the country won’t fund projects meant for professional sports teams.
The city changed its tune and made the Lakehead Thunderwolves the lead tenant, hoping the university team’s amateur status might sway the decision.
Once again it was turned down.
“We’re going to keep talking,” McMahon said.
Hobbs raised the issue during an announcement the province made committing $1.48 million to help pay for upgrades and to organize the 2017 Under-18 Baseball World Cup.
“I’m not giving up on that. We are going to build that and it’s going to help this community as well,” Hobbs said.
