Comment 68711

By H+H (registered) - website | Posted August 30, 2011 at 16:03:08

I too was at the GIC meeting yesterday. I do not believe the gift of land has been decided at all, despite what Mr. Troop said to Ryan. Rob MacIsaac and Diane LaPointe-Kay said that this detail had not yet been negotiated.

As for the velodrome, based on everything I heard yesterday, I say we take a pass. This whole Pan Am process has been a disgrace. The synergies are for Mohawk, not for Hamilton. I get the point about elite class athletes coming to Hamilton to train, but so what? Brenda Johnson confirmed yesterday that there is no current plan to have the Mohawk facilities open to the public. Yes, Mr. MacIsaac did not outfight say no, but I watched him squirm when he answered and offered what appeared to me to be a very weak yes, we would think about it.

The critical mass of having a sports centre that was to include a stadium, velodrome and pool has not happened. Hamilton has already screwed this up nationally, so I'm prepared to be further embarrassed by pulling out now.

Save the money. Speaking of which, people, including Councillors and the Mayor, are talking about this stadium decision as a free gift to Hamilton. "Won't cost us any additional money." Where did people learn about finance? From Sesame Street. If something that you had decided to do can be done for $10 million less than budgeted, then you just saved $10 million! It's real money. It can go back where it belongs, to the Future Fund. This juvenile notion that "it's found money" is silly.

gcrawford

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