THERE'S A LOT OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOBBYING UNDERWAY TODAY.
SEVERAL BUSINESS LEADERS ARE CALLING COUNCILLORS -- URGING THEM NOT TO PULL THE PLUG.
THEY SAY THE LVEC HAS COME TOO FAR, AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS TOO GREAT, TO BAIL OUT NOW.
WE WENT TO THE STREETS OF KINGSTON TODAY -- TO GET SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE RISING COSTS... AND WHETHER THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITY IS STILL A GOOD IDEA."HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOIGN ON OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IF THAT IS THE CASE
I THINK WE NEED SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER BEEN SURE IF THEY SHOULD PUT IT THERE OR NOT, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY SHOULD BE PUTTING IT DOWNTOWN OR NOT. I WOULD PROBABLY OPPOSE THE COUNCILLORS PUTTING IT DOWN, MY WIFE WOUDL DISAGREE
I THINK WITH A 40 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IF YOU RUN 4 MILLION OVER, THAT ISN'T SO BAD
"IF IT IS GOING TO BE OVERBUDGET, LET'S FACE IT EVERYTHING WITH THE GOVERNMENT THESE DAYS IS OVER BUDGET SO I MEAN WE CAN CUT BACK ON THINGS AND ALL THAT BUT IF IT IS GOING TO HELP THIS TOWN AND BRING MORE CITIZENS IN, THAN SURE, I WOULD SUPPORT IT
DURING THE NOVEMBER ELECTION CAMPAIGN -- WHEN THESE INTERNAL STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED, BUT NOT MADE PUBLIC -- MAYOR HARVEY ROSEN SAID KINGSTON WOULD BECOME THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE PROVINCE IF IT TRIED TO PULL THE PLUG ON THE LVEC.
AS FOR THE LOOMING COST OVERRUNS, HE SAYS IT'S GOING TO BE A STRUGGLE RIGHT UNTIL THE DOORS ARE OPEN.
HARVEY ROSEN:
"THERE'S GOING TO BE UP AND DOWN THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE GO YOU KNOW COME UP WITH THE , PROVIDE THE INTESTINAL FORTITUDE TO STICK IT OUT AND GET THIS JOB DONE."
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION RELIES HEAVILY ON RESERVES TO MAKE UP THE SHORTFALL.
A FEDERAL GRANT OF 4 MILLION WOULD SOLVE THE LVEC'S CASH WOES -- BUT SO FAR, OTTAWA HAS NOT TAKEN ACTION ON A SOFT COMMITMENT IT MADE LAST MAY -- WHEN THE LVEC'S BUDGET AND LOCATION WERE FINALIZED.
AND BECAUSE THOSE APPROVALS HAPPENED LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO, THERE ARE HINTS THE MAYOR COULD USE PROCEDURAL RULES -- TO DECLARE THE LVEC 'NON CONFIDENCE' MOTION OUT OF ORDER.
BILL GLOVER:
"IF THE PROJECT IS TO GO AHEAD, EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE QUALITY OF THE INFORMATION AND THE QUALITY OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT."
THE DEBATE COMES DOWN TO THIS -- IS COST OF BAILING OUT OF THE LVEC CHEAPER THAN SEEING IT THROUGH ???
CHRIS HARVEY:
"GETTING OUT OF THE LVEC DEAL WON'T COME CHEAP. THE LATEST ESTIMATE FROM STAFF, ABOUT 16 MILLION DOLLARS, MOSTLY TAXPAYERS MONEY.
EXACTLY WHAT SOME COUNCILLORS DON'T WANT SPENT ON THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE.
CHRIS HARVEY, CKWS NEWSWATCH, KINGSTON
AS CHRIS MENTIONED, THE PENALTIES TO GET OUT OF THE LVEC DEAL WOULD BE SEVERE.
ACCORDING TO THE RECENT ESTIMATES -- AT LEAST 16 MILLION DOLLARS IN CANCELLATION FEES.
AND A TAX INCREASE TO COVER THAT.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE COMPENSATION FOR THE CONTRACTOR OR ANY LEGAL FEES.
THE CITY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO RETURN A PROMISED 4 MILLION DOLLARS PROVINCIAL GRANT.
AND IT PUTS A QUESTION MARK OVER THE FUTURE OF THE OHL'S KINGSTON FRONTENACS.
THE MOTION TO BAIL OUT OF THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE ON THE FLOOR AT COUNCIL, ON TUESDAY.