Alderman urges ‘predictable’ funding from governments
A Calgary alderman welcomed federal money to upgrade a northeast recreation centre Saturday, but stressed the city needs more “substantial and predictable” funding commitments from Ottawa and the province.
“We’ve got such a huge infrastructure deficit,” said Ward 3 Ald. Jim Stevenson. “The province and the feds are going to have to come to our aid, especially with the projection of another 300,000 to 400,000 people coming to Calgary over the next 10 years.”
Stevenson was reacting to Saturday’s announcement that Cardel Place is set to receive more than $200,000 in funding from Ottawa to pay for a new water treatment system and other upgrades at the sports complex.
The money will come from the federal government’s $150 million Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund, which supplies funds to renovate infrastructure at community centres, recreational buildings and arenas.
“These improvements will create a modernized facility that continues to meet the sporting and recreational needs of north-central communities in Calgary,” said local MP Devinder Shory.
Cardel Place opened in 2004. It houses three gyms, a pool, fitness centre, climbing wall and two NHL-size rinks in a total of 177,000 square feet. A Calgary Public Library branch is also at the site.
But the building is also in need of upgrades, and will use the $214,284 in federal dollars to install a new water treatment system and cooling tower. The sports complex will also improve elevator card access and put in energy efficient lighting.
In 2011, Cardell Place announced expansion plans estimated to cost between $40 million and $50 million. The sports complex hopes to raise 85 per cent of the funds from all three levels of government.
Saturday’s funding announcement, however, is nowhere near the $100 million in federal dollars initially promised by Ottawa to pay for four recreation centres in the city. The Harper government cancelled the plan in 2011, sparking outrage from city politicians and community organizations alike.
While Crown corporation PPP Canada recommended the city receive the funding, the Tory cabinet rejected the cash injection, with cabinet minister Jason Kenney saying later the government had made a mistake and the P3 Canada Fund was never intended to pay for recreation facilities.
“That was something that really bothered us because we felt they should have stuck with their commitment through the P3,” said Stevenson.
Stevenson, who is also the vice-president of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Associa- tion, said he plans to lobby federal ministers and Calgary MPs for capital funding when AUMA executives head to Ottawa during its Federal Advocacy Trip next month.
He said city needs to be moving forward on big capital projects, such as the southeast and the north-central LRT lines.
“If the feds and the province would give us some kind of commitment ... then we can plan to put that whole thing into action,” said Stevenson.