City funding debate on Monday will likely decide fate of rec centres

The future of Calgary’s four proposed recreation centres will probably be decided Monday, with city council scheduled to debate in secret how best to fund the projects.

A major wrench was thrown into the works this fall when the federal government refused to spend $100 million through its agency PPP Canada Inc.

Since then city officials have been working out how best to get the $400-million project off the ground.

Even without the federal funds there continues to be an appetite for build all four centres — three in the city’s underserved southeast and one in the northwest.

“We absolutely have to build these things,” Ald. Gian CarloCarra said.

Local groups have been lobbying for years for the facilities. Stephanie Campbell, with the South East Calgary Recreation Society, said it is pushing for all four to built.

“The reason we always fought to have three down there (in the southeast quadrant) wasn’t just because we wanted to have our cake and eat it, too. Frankly, we need them,” Campbell said.

The question is how best to fill the funding gap left by the federal government decision.

Ald. Gord Lowe said there are a series of options, including a public-private partnership, borrowing the money, or building only some of the recreation centres.

“It’s a question of putting our head around the total funding model and determining a way to do it so that. . . . It gives us what we need and it’s affordable for the city of Calgary,” he said.