Paddling for a $4M commitment

Canadian Canoe Museum supporters hope to change city councillors’ minds

At least five people will be asking city council on Monday to give $4 million – not $2 million – to the Canadian Canoe Museum for construction of a new $65-million facility.

In late November, city councillors voted to give the museum half the funding it had requested: $2 million, instead of $4 million.

The money will be given to the museum over four years, starting in 2019.

Councillors also voted to ensure that sometime in 2019, the next city council shall be asked by city staff to debate giving an additional $2 million to the museum.

These decisions were made during councillors’ budget talks for 2018, which took place the last week of November.

On Monday, council must vote a final time to adopt its budget – including the funding plans for canoe museum funding.

Council can reopen debate and change its mind on any aspect of the budget on Monday, however – and at least five citizens will try to persuade council to give more to the museum.

John Ronson, chairman of the museum’s board of directors, will be speaking to councillors on Monday. He told The Examiner earlier this month that the city should rethink its decision.

“For $4 million, the city will get a tremendous return on their investment,” he said. “We think it’s a reasonable ask. We were deeply disappointed that it was cut in half.”

Museum board member Bill Lockington is also scheduled speak on Monday, as is Joanne Brown (co-chairwoman of the museum’s Beaver Club Gala), Dale Standen (gallery guide) and Bernice Standen (museum volunteer).

While they pre-registered to speak to council on the matter, anyone who goes to City Hall on Monday night can also make a presentation to council.

The Canadian Canoe Museum is planning a new $65-million facility next to the Peterborough Lift Lock. For 20 years, they’ve been located in a former factory on Monaghan Rd.

The design by Irish architectural firm Heneghan Peng calls for a one-storey building with a massive rooftop garden and an interior conference room large enough to seat 400 people.

Government funding hasn’t all been announced for the project yet.

The museum has already received $1.4 million from the feds - money meant to help cover design costs, such as architects’ fees.

There could be more federal money coming from Ottawa, perhaps as much as $15 million. Meanwhile the province has already pledged $9 million.

Fundraising will be expected to cover the rest of the cost.

During budget talks, Coun. Andrew Beamer moved that the city cut the funding request to $2 million.

He said his constituents are quite concerned with road and sidewalk maintenance – and they’re not so keen on the city paying for a new museum.

Beamer said a $2 million gift is significant, yet more affordable for the city.

But Mayor Daryl Bennett wanted to give the museum $4 million. He said the city shouldn’t short-change itself when it comes to allowing a national museum to be located in Peterborough.

He wasn’t alone: Coun. Lesley Parnell, Coun. Dan McWilliams and Coun. Henry Clarke had also argued for $4 million.

But in the end, Bennett and Parnell voted in favour of giving the museum $2 million – they did so after the proviso was added that the next city council will consider topping up the gift by a further $2 million.

That left just Coun. McWilliams and Coun. Clarke voting against the $2 million gift (they still wanted to give $4 million).

Livestreaming of the meeting is available on Monday on The Examiner’s website. It begins at 6:30 p.m.

NOTE: See more city council coverage on Pages A2 and A3.