HRM Rink Funding

Incessant innuendo and negative suggestion by Councilor Tim Outhit and Hon Jeff Regan , both political reps for Bedford, regarding a no-go on federal government funding is deserving of some clarification regarding the federal decision and rumors surrounding the decision.” Rink funding no go from feds” in July 23rd edition of the Chronicle Herald was the latest commentary by Councillor Outhit and the same time MP Jeff Regan sounded off on the air waves . Several HRM councillors also joined in the finger pointing.

I would like to address a number of the suggestions emitted by the above.

There has been suggestion that a” special interest group” in Bedford has wielded political influence as high as the Prime Ministers office to effect payback for electing an NDP government in Nova Scotia and a Liberal MLA in Bedford and the Rocky Lake Development Association has been identified by several councilors and media sources as the “special interest group.” As a member of this board I can assure readers that our group has been quite clear that we support rinks for our region regardless of who builds them or where ; our concern from the start has been the cost of construction to the tax payers and provision of the best facility in the best and most affordable location and that is not on the Hammonds Plains site chosen by the HRM.

There was suggestion that former MLA Len Goucher, a member of our board, had actually had a recent conversation with Prime Minister Harper asking for exemption of the HRM project from shovel ready stimulus projects. This suggestion and suggestion that any one else on our board had conversation with the Feds. Regarding their decision is false . The suggestion is overzealous political response from the Liberal team in a community where they have been silent until now, regarding support for ice facilities in the Bedford region. MP Geoff Regan has never been at the table in the 9 years that our board has been actively pursuing the Rocky Lake Project and Councillor Outhit threw us under the bus in the early months of his first term. We remain the only active group offering sports facilities at a reasonable price in a prime location.

Why did the federal government cancel the funding for the stimulus package?

In my opinion the HRM project did not meet the criteria set out for stimulus funding on at least two areas. Number one, stimulus funding was to create jobs in a timely manner with completion dates being paramount for the flow of funds and creation of jobs. The time lost with a provincial election, delays and issues surrounding environment ( despite the fact Councilor Outhit denies this there are wetland issues and water supply issues related to the site which could cause lengthy delays) have been a concern for all levels of government regarding construction deadlines.

Number 2 the requirements asked for a shovel ready site that would only proceed with stimulus funding if no other funding was available. The HRM staff at a public information meeting in April , in answer to a question from the floor, responded that they would proceed with or without federal and provincial money. This statement, since supported by Mayor Kelly and Councillor Outhit, in itself disqualifies the stimulus program.

HRM also did not take ownership of the land until June of this year putting the term” shovel ready” in the grey area category as well when coming before the federal review.

I would close by suggesting that HRM do the taxpayers a favour and bring their project to the Rocky Lake site where we have a project nearing completion to supply one ice surface and cut their costs in half in a much preferred site on a shovel ready development that has sewer and water on site.