Rob Baker is more tragic than hip in the matter of boosting the idea of a waterfront arena. Recently, in a radio debate with Councillor Garrison the question emerged of alternative sites for Metalcraft Marine’s drydocking operations. He repeated his side’s desperate resort: the ex-Kingston Shipyards drydock at the Marine Museum. He did this with the ungracious assertion that the only people who would be put out would be the “14” or so who visit the museum each year!

So, this is the spokesperson so lauded by Councillor Smith? This is the quality of the dream-team Carl Holmberg puts his faith in?

The Whig-Standard, far from being unkind to an LVEC as Mr. Holmberg claims, has in fact been very easy on a scheme which greatly deserves to be taken to task. The idea of using the Marine Museum drydock (it actually belongs to the Federal Department of Public Works) is one that may have started with the Deputy Mayor who said it in the public of a council meeting last winter. It has been repeated by highly placed people at city hall and should be publicly retracted. For a host of technical, financial, social and other reasons, it is a complete non-starter. Anyone who seriously expresses it shows how little they know of marine industry, of the Ontario Street neighbourhood and of Kingston’s existing cultural map.

In any case, there is something preposterous in debating Metalcraft’s relocation. They are property owners legally conducting their business. The city used to be proud of them. Now they seem to be in the way of some people’s ambitions.

An entertainment centre is as yet only an idea. Its very financing is unclear and the city hasn’t even published its probable full cost. We shouldn’t be debating Metalcraft’s location: we should be debating an LVEC’s!

For some reason, our society likes to confer guru status on popular entertainers. Mr. Baker’s blithe statement about the suitability of the Marine Museum drydock is as apt as someone’s telling him that The Hip should buck up as they could always play the Newlands Pavillion!

Andy Soper
Kingston