Skip to content

Canada Games controversy continues

Council erupted into another heated debate over the 2021 Canada Summer Games last night
geoff-holman
Public Works director Geoff Holman explained the process involved in presenting the Canada Games report which is forthcoming. Bob Liddycoat / Thorold News

After providing a brief recap of the Canada Summer Games public presentation meeting held Oct. 30, Games council liaison John Kenny made a motion at Tuesday’s council meeting, which sparked another in a series of debates about the city’s level of commitment to the 2021 Summer Games.

“There were reps from the host (Games) society to provide information,” at last Wednesday’s meeting, noted Kenny. “A few comments were made by the public” regarding the Games park, which would be a “shared facility with Brock (University), Thorold, St. Catharines,” and the Region.

A “partnership agreement will take into account the needs of Thorold residents,” guided by the city’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan and others, he added.

“New user groups” who wish to be involved should contact the city’s Public Works director Geoff Holman, before Nov. 15.

“The goal is, on Nov. 14, to have partnerships and (operating) costs” published on the city’s website and on Thorold News, Kenny continued. “All the facts will be there.”

His motion stated that any interested parties should register with the Clerk’s department if they wish to speak “in favour of or against the project” prior to the general committee meeting on Nov. 19. The motion also called for the meeting to start early, at 5 p.m., to accommodate the feedback.

“Everyone has been working tirelessly on getting everything done for our Games facility,” said Coun. Nella Dekker. “Providing this time frame is enough for the public, and it will be before the next council meeting.”

Coun. Jim Handley disagreed vehemently and repeatedly.

“Three days is not fair when the city is looking into a multi-million-dollar project,” he said, adding that councillors need more time to review the report before deciding whether to support it financially or not.

Coun. Anthony Longo agreed with Handley, who also felt the public should have more time to comment.

His job, Handley added, prevents him from reading council-related reports during the day.

Coun. Victoria Wilson said, “I don’t feel comfortable getting information on a Thursday and making a decision by Tuesday,” a time frame of six days.

According to Coun. Ken Sentance, “Most of the people I’ve talked to are for the Summer Games. We don’t have the operating numbers. I had consultation with the Parks and Recreation (staff) early on, and everyone could make comments. Mr. Hamilton (Canada Games chair) gave a presentation here (at council) and we had another one (last) Wednesday. The people have had lots of time to discuss. I’ve talked to a lot of people, and we were elected to make a decision on their behalf.”

Mayor Terry Ugulini explained that the other partners—the city of St. Catharines and Niagara Region—would be publicly stating their support next week.

“This has been going on since May. Staff has been putting mega hours in and staff is going to make a recommendation to council, like they do with other issues. The report will go public on Thursday, but we’re giving due notice that this is coming that day. This agreement is between partners. Our hope is that the draft report will come to council, but they are still finalizing all that” with respect to operating costs, he stated.

“The issue is trying to get the shovel in the ground. People are spreading information that’s not real, and that’s unfortunate. We have to have some confidence that our staff is doing the job we need them to do.”

A great deal of data is going into the report, said Public Works director Geoff Holman, reiterating that the Games is not a city of Thorold-driven project, but one comprised of four partners.

Thorold city staff is “looking at an arena strategy,” he said. “We’ve got to do something with the Whyte Arena. We have independent reviews” stating whether or not the city should “put another penny into that arena. We don’t have a lot of choice,” since the aged facility is rapidly deteriorating, and needs addressing, he said.

Holman described the Games Park as “a facility that will help us address what’s happening with the current (arena) structure. Six options will be laid out” for council to choose from, including a “do-nothing option,” which “will cost $6 million,” he said.

For $1 million more—council can contribute $7 million in total, and own a 25 per cent share in the entire facility, he explained. “The operating costs will be considered. Maybe we don’t need another arena … Since 1974, we’ve had two arenas. We have new residents coming with new development and they’re going to want to have that recreational standard. We need to make a decision with the Whyte Arena. Do we jump on board with the Canada Summer Games facility, or go off on our own? Either way, there will be a cost, and that’s more a political than a technical decision.”

“This is a Canada Games project that just happens to fall in our backyard, at a time when we need to decide what to do with the Whyte Arena,” he continued. “If we don’t get started on this shortly, we’ll miss an opportunity. There’s a lease between the host society and Brock to recognize the sensitivity and it wouldn’t be the first time council has to make a decision without all the perfect information.”

After Holman concluded, both councillors Longo and Wilson said they felt better informed.

Coun. Carmen DeRose insisted, “We need to know (operating costs) before the fact.”

Coun. Fred Neale said he took offence to Handley’s accusation that some councillors have “already made up their mind” to support the facility.

“I will look at all the facts. All I’ve heard is a bunch of misinformation from councillors about things we don’t even know about,” Neale stated. “I think it’s very positive,” in terms of the legacy it will provide for Thorold into the future.

If the operating costs are found to be “horrible,” Sentance said, “I will make a decision against it, but I have not made a decision yet.”

According to Longo, “Stipulations have to be met before we make a decision. Do we have to follow the motion council supported” in May? he asked.

That motion stated that Thorold council approve, in principle, a maximum of $7 million, subject to funding commitments from the other three partners.

“The motion council passed in May stands,” replied city clerk Donna Delvecchio.

“We have not met the conditions from the motion at the May meeting,” said Handley, “so how can we go forward on the 19th?”

“They are working on it, and all those conditions will be met,” argued Ugulini. “We are following the motion from May because the report will come with those conditions met.”

Kenny repeated his original motion, which sparked the debate, adding that it did not include council making any financial commitment, but simply suggested that staff post on the city’s website and in the Thorold News that the start time for the Nov. 19 council meeting be pushed from 6:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., allowing anyone from the public who wishes time to speak.

“And passing this tonight will give the public sufficient notice,” he added.

His motion passed.

Sentance asked staff to provide a media report as soon as possible, “To give people the information we know right now, and put it up on the website and in the local news, on the status and timing of everything,” which also passed.