Councillors delay building of twin-pad arena, aquatics complex at Trent University until 2020

Provincial grant of $18 million no longer expected

Councillors plan to put off building a twin-pad arena and aquatics complex at Trent University until 2020 since a provincial government grant of $18 million isn't expected after all.

The money was going to be applied to the construction of a $53-million arena and aquatics complex planned for Trent University.

The facility on Pioneer Rd. was meant as a replacement for the aging Northcrest Arena, which will close as soon as the new arena opens. Originally the city intended to build a twin-pad replacement arena, and then added the pool. But now the finances are in question.

On Monday, councillors voted to delay building the complex until 2020 (rather than starting in 2019).

That’s not a final plan, however: it will need to be ratified at a council meeting Dec. 10.

Mayor Diane Therrien asked whether the city is considering a different site for the twin-pad, since the planned site partially covers a wetland.

Allan Seabrooke, the city’s commissioner of community services, said there’s no plans to put it elsewhere. “It’s basically shovel-ready.”

Coun. Henry Clarke asked whether it could be deferred until such a time when the city will have the money to do the project (which could take longer than 2020, he said).

But Seabrooke said there are forthcoming meetings with MPP Dave Smith and MP Maryam Monsef about obtaining provincial or federal support.

Furthermore, a new city staff report says the withdrawal of the $18 million doesn’t mean the provincial government won’t ever provide funds for the project: the city has been encouraged to apply for grants “as funding becomes available,” says the report.

Also on city councillors’ agenda, on Monday:

Peterborough Distribution Inc.:

Councillors asked for a new city staff report, due Jan. 21, that offers details on the status of a planned deal to sell Peterborough Distribution Inc. (PDI) to Hydro One.

The idea for the report came from Coun. Keith Riel, a longtime opponent of the sale.

In late 206, city council of the day voted 6-5 to sell PDI to Hydro One for $105 million. Although a deal has been struck, the sale hasn’t gone through yet.

The deal includes the wires, poles and transformers of Peterborough Utilities, which deliver electricity to 37,000 customers in Peterborough, Lakefield and Norwood.

Coun. Dean Pappas, another opponent of the deal, said he heard all about the issue while he was campaigning for re-election this fall.

“We got it over and over and over again – people don’t want this sale,” he said, adding that he expects the new staff report to explain if there’s now “a chance to kill the deal”.

Coun. Stephen Wright said he’s also interested in having this report from staff, and he also wanted to know whether there’s an arbitration mechanism attached to the deal.

Cannabis Retail Stores:

City councillors have given preliminary approval to allow cannabis stores to set up shop in Peterborough (a ratification vote will happen on Dec. 10).

Now that cannabis has been legalized, Ontario municipal councils have until Jan. 22, 2019 to vote on whether they’d like to allow privately-run cannabis retail stores to operate within their boundaries.

Opting out of having cannabis stores isn’t recommended, states a new city staff report, because it would turn away investors.

“Rather, any such investments would be diverted to neighbouring municipalities that have not opted out,” states the report.

On Monday, councillors voted to accept the stores. The plan isn’t final, though: it must be ratified at a city council meeting Dec. 10.

Councillors also voted Monday to amend the municipal smoking bylaw so that it’s legal to smoke cannabis anywhere that cigarette-smoking or vaping is allowed.

That would mean you could smoke cannabis at home or on public sidewalks, for instance, as well as in designated hotel rooms.

But under the proposed new rules, smoking cannabis would be prohibited in areas such as children’s playgrounds, cityowned sports fields, in restaurants and on bar patios.