Time to relook at the K-Rock Centre financial assumptions?

[Civic]

Now that the K-Rock Centre is largely finished, it may be time to revisit some of the earlier financial and operating assumptions for the centre. It appears that the North American economy is moving into recession. Some preliminary scenario planning may provide the city with ideas on alternative ways to use the building. This could help to optimize the cash flow in a tighter economy where fewer people may be willing to consistently come out to entertainment events. One suggestion may be to explore ways that some of Kingston's many large institutions could make use of the centre on a regular basis.


CKWS TV

"Concert Fate
March 12, 2008

GOOD NEWS TONIGHT FOR FANS OF ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK.

HIS KINGSTON SHOW HAS BEEN SALVAGED.

CKWS NEWS HAS LEARNED THAT A NEW PROMOTER HAS AGREED TO PICK UP THE CONTRACT -- TO HAVE THE VEGAS CROONER PERFORM AT THE DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE.

THE ORIGINAL PROMOTER BAILED OUT -- AFTER 99-DOLLAR TICKET SALES WERE SLOW.

BUT THERE'S WORD TONIGHT THAT A NEW CONCERT PROMOTER WILL HONOUR THE MAY 4TH CONCERT.

WE'RE TOLD THE PROMOTER NEEDS TO SELL AT LEAST 21-HUNDRED TICKETS.

POOR TICKET SALES LED TO THE CANCELLATION OF COMEDY AND COUNTRY MUSIC PERFORMANCES, EARLIER THIS MONTH.

AND, A NEW SHOW HAS BEEN ADDED FOR FAMILIES.

THE "ELMO MAKES MUSIC" SHOW IS BOOKED FOR THE WEEKEND OF APRIL 12TH."

[Dogma]

What economic rewards does a Sports & Entertainment Centre present to the Kingston community?

There is no "line item" in the business plan for the LVEC that specifically includes the United States as a stakeholder to the economic development of the LVEC now or in the future.

That's why it is called: a "Regional Sports and Entertainment Centre" as oppose to a Toronto "International" Centre.

A copy of the Economic, Market Impact Analysis Report is posted to the web site at: http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/recreation/arenas/sports-entertainment-centre/marketstudy.asp

A: The economic benefits a Sports & Entertainment Centre will bring to Kingston are estimated to be in the range of $20 million each year. The financial details to support this figure are outlined in the city's original Sports & Entertainment Centre Business Plan and later confirmed by the Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) after hiring Henson Consulting to peer review the estimates.

Such estimates reinforce the importance of the Sports & Entertainment Centre as a "local" community investment.

Also, the KEDCO review concluded that, "Investment in the Sports & Entertainment Centre in conjunction with the other capital investments that the city is undertaking presents an opportunity to not only depict Kingston as a vibrant and energetic community, but to begin the process of positioning Kingston as an important centre - as the hub of Eastern Ontario - much in the same way that London is now seen as the hub of Southwestern Ontario."

I commented 3 years ago in a Whig Standard article, that the naysayers or Citizens Concerned about the LVEC (KCAL)
1) Could only "start to understand" LVEC's by experiencing them, supporting and not cherry pick issues that will arise.
2) Be respectful of the concept of an LVEC (Mulitpurpose facility) could bring to ones community if designed and built intellegently, and with no heresay or armchair commenting.
3) And that a real discussion could only and would only happen with a true depth of these types of facilities.
4) And that the LVEC (IS NOT) nor ever will be a "Skydome" or baseball facility, nor at that scale or functionality.

Then one could finally understand the LVEC studies that were presented publically & professionally three years earlier!

Armchair experts tend to come from a rather bias emotional centre rather than a dose of any experience.

Especially on such matters as an LVEC inwhich Kingston has NO experience with.

Then and only then could a "real" informed debate begin. (I believe such Kingstonians are starting that discussion today.)

[Civic]

If the Ontario - and by extension Kingston - economy is moving into recession is it reasonable to suggest that economic spinoffs for either the K-Rock Centre or the multiplex will be particularlry strong?

The credit crisis in the US is bound to effect our economy. Under these circumstances we should consider the possibility that these facilities may have a difficult time in breaking even without municipal financial assistance.

[Dogma]

The current "question posed" in this link - regarding the assumed LVEC "financial assumptions" -

Or in other words: The (Professionally accredied Business & Marketing Plan for the Kingston LVEC)
- including inputs from authorized local "democratic" data, and including - local social, recreational and business agencies..

(This is what you meant to say on this new post............)


Number 1:

"the paint is still wet" - for the LVEC to have a rational discussion on such a Macro Economic Question posed:

This "premise/ or economic theory" - that is neither backed up with ANY real data" and comes in a glass 1/2 empty..theme.

Number 2:

Critical proof (thus far) is frankly somewhat conclusive in terms of this "investigative timeframe":

Our "Regional Sports and Entertainment Centre" as oppose to a Toronto "International" Centre - is a local or regional supported facility. (Period)

For ones research references, or for a first reader....
A copy of the Economic, Market Impact Analysis Report regarding the LVEC is posted to the following municipal web site at:

http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/recreation/arenas/sports-entertainment-centre/marketstudy.asp


Number 3:

Additionally; Recent RBC report on the impact of the American "dollar downturn" - clearly indicates that because of the US dollar decrease in its overall value, compared to i.e The Canadian dollar...Canadians are infact "wealthier" relative to Americans - especially in relation to disposable income.

Our Canadian economy while softening (from a fever pace these past 4 years) is still showing job growth, and increase incomes (+ Canadian dollar wealth)
e.g an expense to travel or purchase from a foreign source - is STILL much *****er than when our dollar was at it lowest a few years ago - @ 62 cents.

Thus, Canadians currently can afford to spend significantly more on entertainment, new cars and travel now than ever before. (income verse expense ratio)

Additionally; our "local regional marketplace" is under serviced in terms of entertainment venues. "Re: Market Study" issued September 2005 (see above link)

Number 4:

Hard Facts (to date):

The LVEC business plan requires: (6 (six) minor concerts @ 2500 attendees, and 5 (five) major concerts @ 5000 attendes per year) total of 11.
Currently: 3 sellout concerts (50% of yearly target) are already in the books for revenues this quarter (Noting: a shorter quarter this fiscal year)

All indication thus far of the LVEC reaching its business/market plan goals: (first quarter) - seemed to be exceding all conservative issued reports.

[Lydia]

I received the following information and I believe the people below should get full recognition for their contribution.

The Derbyshire family has donated $25,000, puck buyers have brought in $3,005 through the Puck Stops Here campaign, and a boy's sixth birthday party has garnered $200 - all for the ongoing fundraising campaign in support of the K-Rock Centre. The grand total raised now totals more than $1,192,000.

The Derbyshire family, who have donated $25,000, are the owners and operators of Clermont Venture Corporation and Canadian Tire Cataraqui.

"We are delighted to donate to K-Rock Centre," says Matthew Derbyshire. "We believe this facility will allow Kingston to host, and Kingstonians to experience, world class entertainment. Although you can't ascribe a monetary value to the civic pride the new facility will foster, it's truly priceless. We look forward to building many family memories at the new facility."

The Puck Stops Here campaign, promoted by 98.3 FLY FM, Canadian Tire, Secura Financial Group and the Kingston Frontenacs, sold a total 601 hockey pucks.

Six-year-old Bradley Francis asked his friends to bring donations to the K-Rock Centre instead of presents to his recent birthday party. Bradley will hand his donation over to Mayor Harvey Rosen, Chair of the fundraising campaign, at the Centre tomorrow.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
------------------

When: 11:30 a.m., Thursday March 27

Where: K-Rock Centre

What: Bradley Francis, aged 6, and his mother, Tammy Bush, will give Mayor Harvey Rosen a donation to the K-Rock Centre. Bradley asked for donations to the Centre instead of gifts for his sixth birthday.

Donations are still being accepted for the Let's Build the Kingston Regional Sports & Entertainment Centre Together fundraising campaign. Details and donation forms are available at <http://www.kbuild.ca> or by visiting the campaign office on the main floor of City Hall, 216 Ontario St.

[Dogma]

Legal challenge calls for mayor's job; Former councillor Rick Downes alleges Harvey Rosen violated conflict of interest act

Posted By Rob Tripp

Posted 3 hours ago

A former city councillor has asked a judge to throw Mayor Harvey Rosen out of office because he violated a conflict of interest law.
Rick Downes, who ran unsuccessfully against Rosen in the 2006 municipal election, filed a civil action claiming that Rosen violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

It is the first time in a decade and a half that a Kingston citizen has taken the unusual step of going to court in a bid to prove that a politician has taken advantage of his public position.

Downes filed the application March 17, and the following day, a bailiff served the mayor with a copy of the documents, according to records on file at the Superior Court of Justice in Kingston.

Rosen has not filed any material with the court. A hearing is scheduled for July 10.

"The matter is before the courts and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on it at this time," Rosen said in an interview yesterday.
He said he has retained a lawyer.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Downes claims that Rosen failed to declare a conflict when he took part in debates and votes on issues related to the selection of property on Anglin Bay as a preferred site for construction of a new downtown arena.

The application also claims that Rosen attempted to influence voting by speaking in favour of the Anglin Bay site.

"Mayor Harvey Rosen of the Corporation of the City of Kingston did not declare the interest or general nature of his business relationship with Mr. John P. Wright at any time before February 5, 2008," the application states.



In April 2004, Rosen announced that a task force he hand-picked identified 11.7 acres of land on the Inner Harbour as the ideal site for a new marquee arena.

At a news conference April 16, 2004, Rosen explained that to build there, the city would have to buy 2.2 acres of land from Wright, who owns the Kingston Marina. He also owns K-Rock radio.

Rosen said the city had talked to Wright but no deal was in place.
Wright's radio station rents office space in a building at 863 Princess St. that is owned by Rosen Corporation, according to Downes's court application.

Harvey Rosen is the president and a director of Rosen Corp., according to the application.

"This business relationship establishes a pecuniary interest between Mayor Harvey Rosen and Mr. John P. Wright," Downes claims in an affidavit filed with the court.

The release of the 2004 task force report sparked a furious and sometimes bitter public debate about the plan to build a new rink.

Many citizens condemned the location.

On June 15, 2004, city councillors voted to move forward with the project, based on the task force report, according to city hall minutes. The minutes show that Rosen voted in favour of moving forward. He did not declare a conflict.

The city did not build the arena on the Anglin Bay site, moving it because of the public outcry to city-owned property on Ontario Street. The $46.5-million facility opened in February this year.

On Feb. 5, city councillors debated and voted on a proposal to sell the naming rights for the facility.

Rosen declared a conflict and did not vote because "the corporation of which he is president and a director has business relations with the naming rights proponent," according to the minutes of the meeting.
The building is now called the K-Rock Centre under a 10-year deal in which Wright's station gives the city $3.3 million in cash and services.
Under a Kingston bylaw, the city may pay Rosen's legal costs of defending himself against the court action, provided that the application is dismissed.

He would not say if he'll take advantage of the provision.
Downes also declined to comment, citing the fact that the case is before the court.

After nine consecutive years on council, Downes sought the mayor's job in 2006, running against Rosen, then the incumbent, and councillor Kevin George.

In a mayoral race that attracted nearly 38,000 votes, Rosen beat Downes by a little more than 700 votes.

Downes is the vice-principal of Amherstview Public School.
Rosen told the Whig-Standard in an interview in November 2003, shortly after he was elected to his first term as mayor, that he expected few conflicts between his public role and his job in his family's land-development firm.

"I don't see a great deal of potential for conflict," Rosen said in the 2003 interview. "As a matter of fact, I know when there is a conflict as opposed to ones that are artificially erected to avoid having to take a position on an issue."

Rosen said that he had been an employee of Rosen Corp. for just under three years and had closed his law practice shortly after the 2000 municipal election. At that time, he went "in house" as vice-president and counsel for Rosen Corp., he said.

Rosen said he didn't expect there would be many conflicts that would prevent him from leading debate on important civic issues.
"I don't see it," he said. "If there were a lot of projects that were before council, if it was a matter of policy change or a political decision with respect to some project on an ongoing basis, I would have a great deal of difficulty.

"But that's not going to be the case. It's not in the cards."
Rosen said his job with Rosen Corp. was not very demanding.
"I know how the company operates in terms of our dealings with the municipality and it's pretty run-of-the-mill stuff," he said.
In 1993, three Kingston councillors were found guilty of breaking the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

A judge ruled that Don Bristol, Ian MacInnis and Dave Meers should not have taken part in Sunday shopping decisions at City Hall.

MacInnis and Meers lost on appeal. Bristol did not appeal.

The judge imposed no penalty, essentially ruling that the politicians made an honest mistake, but the case was costly and divisive and revealed simmering tensions between some politicians and the business community.

Taxpayers forked over roughly $24,000 for the legal bills of the councillors.

The councillors complained that the experience hurt their families and their reputations and they accused downtown merchants of seeking to manipulate council.

The case was launched by businessmen Richard Kizell, Ron Southward and Tom Barrett.

Bristol worked as a commission salesman at Sears. Meers ran a Princess Street tobacco shop and MacInnis operated a Sunday flea market. The court ruled that they had a personal financial stake in Sunday shopping.
At the time, it was prohibited in Ontario, with some exceptions.
The councillors had voted to block the ability of downtown businesses to seek exemptions.
rtripp@thewhig.com

The law

In a court action filed last month, Rick Downes claims Mayor Harvey Rosen violated these two sections of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act:

"Duty of Member when present at meeting at which matter considered
5. (1) Where a member, either on his or her own behalf or while acting for, by, with or through another, has any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in any matter and is present at a meeting of the council or local board at which the matter is the subject of consideration, the member,

(a) shall, prior to any consideration of the matter at the meeting, disclose the interest and the general nature thereof;

(b) shall not take part in the discussion of, or vote on any question in respect of the matter; and

(c) shall not attempt in any way whether before, during or after the meeting to influence the voting on any such question.

Where member to leave closed meeting

(2) Where the meeting referred to in subsection (1) is not open to the public, in addition to complying with the requirements of that subsection, the member shall forthwith leave the meeting or the part of the meeting during which the matter is under consideration."

[Dogma]

Whig Standard -- July 11 2008
Judge reserves conflict decision

Complaint against mayor could be ordered to trial


By ROB TRIPP WHIG-STANDARD STAFF WRITER

A judge is considering whether mayor Harvey Rosen is guilty of violating municipal conflict of interest law.

"I'm going to reserve my decision," Mr. Justice Stanley Kershman, of the Superior Court of Justice, said yesterday, following a two-hour hearing sparked by a complaint by former city councillor Rick Downes.

Downes filed the civil action in March, accusing Rosen of breaching conflict law in 2004 when city politicians were debating and voting on plans to build what became a $46.5-million marquee arena.

Kershman did not say when he'll release his decision.

Menninga filed material with the court yesterday indicating that Rosen will ask Downes to pay legal fees of roughly $9,700 if the mayor wins the case.

Rosen has denied the accusation, and yesterday his lawyer, Wilfrid Menninga, attacked the complaint.

He said Downes contends that businessman John P. Wright stood to pocket a "bucket of money" from the sale of a property on Wellington Street to the city, where councillors first considered building a new arena.

Wright would use that money to pay a lease for office space for K-Rock radio in a building owned by Rosen Corp., the family business of which Rosen is president, Menninga said, explaining Downes's argument to the judge.


"It's just so tenuous, so strung out, that any reasonable person would not accept that there's any conflict of interest," Menninga argued.

Downes says Rosen should have declared a conflict of interest in 2004 when he voted in favour of building the rink on the Wellington Street site.

Because of public outcry, the rink was built at another downtown location.

If the rink had been built on the Wellington Street site, the city would have had to purchase the Kingston Marina property, a 2.2-acre site that Downes claims is owned by Wright, through a numbered company.

"Can it reasonably be said that [Rosen] is sitting there licking his chops, thinking that, 'If this goes down, I'm certainly going to be much better off financially,' " Menninga said. "How does that work?

"He doesn't benefit directly or indirectly ... from the sale of the Kingston Marina."

Menninga noted that Rosen and Rosen Corp. have no financial stake in the Kingston Marina or in the city's new arena.

"There isn't any tittle of evidence that there's a conflict of interest here," the lawyer argued.

Yesterday's courtroom confrontation was a lopsided battle, with Menninga, a local lawyer with 34 years of experience, facing Downes, who represented himself.

The imbalance was quickly evident.

Downes made submissions first and about five minutes into his presentation, as he tried to discuss aWhig-Standard story from April 2004, Menninga rose to object.

He noted that Downes had produced a 155-page application record that was full of documents, including City Hall meeting minutes, newspaper stories and searches of government databases.

"None of that was properly placed into evidence," Menninga said.

The judge told Downes he can't simply file a pile of documents.
"That's not the way this court process works," Kershman said.

Downes was left to review the information contained in affidavits that he and Rosen filed in advance of the hearing.

Downes noted that Rosen declared a possible pecuniary interest in February 2008 when city councillors were voting on a naming rights deal for the new arena with K-Rock.

Rosen declared the conflict because of the lease between the radio station and Rosen Corp.

"This business relationship was exactly the same on April 20, 2004," Downes said, referring to a vote at city council to proceed with a plan to build the arena on the Wellington Street site.

Menninga noted that Downes was not on council when the February 2008 vote was taken, so his affidavit referred improperly to events for which he did not have personal knowledge.

The lawyer said Downes presented no real evidence that John P. Wright has a financial interest in K-Rock or a financial interest in the Kingston Marina.

"Even if we cure the evidentiary and procedural difficulties in the application ...we still don't get anywhere close to establishing a conflict of interest in 2004," Menninga told the judge.

Downes acknowledged his naivete. "I've never done this before and I'm
very grateful for your patience as I go through this process," Downes told the judge.

Rosen declined to comment after the hearing.

"I have nothing to say," he said. "The court has heard all of the evidence."
In an interview outside the hearing, Downes said he was "very satisfied" to get his day in court.

"We need to have more transparency in our municipal government and that's what this case is all about for me," he said.

Rather than make a finding on Downes's allegations, the judge could order a trial.

Downes said he'll hire a lawyer if that happens.

"If he orders a full trial, then I really need to have counsel because I want to make sure that all the evidence that is brought to trial is brought in such a way that it is accepted by the judge," he said.

He said he did not believe it was a mistake to argue the case himself.

"I think that every citizen in the City of Kingston should have the opportunity, when they see elected officials behave in ways that make them feel uncomfortable, that they should be able to bring a petition to the court," he said.

Downes was narrowly beaten by Rosen for the mayor's job in the 2006 municipal election.

[Dogma]

Mayor cleared of conflict

Ex-councillor fails to prove business relationship between Rosen, K-Rock boss, judge rules

Posted By JORDAN PRESS WHIG-STANDARD CITY HALL REPORTER

Posted 6 hours ago


A judge has ruled that Kingston's mayor did not violate conflict of interest laws when he took part in votes on building the downtown arena on the Inner Harbour.

In a ruling handed down Wednesday, Superior Court Justice Stanley J. Kershman dismissed an application from former city councillor Rick Downes to find Harvey Rosen guilty of violating the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

The judge ruled that Downes did not prove that there was a business relationship between John Wright from K-Rock radio and Rosen.

Downes claimed that Rosen failed to declare a conflict when he took part in debates and votes on issues related to the selection of property on Anglin Bay as a preferred site for construction of a new downtown arena.
Downes claimed that Wright had a stake in Kingston Marina, which the city would have had to purchase if it built the rink on the inner harbour.
"It is difficult to understand what possible personal benefit [Rosen] would have achieved in supporting ... council's originally chosen site.

There was simply no potential conflict of interest to disclose in the Court's view," Kershman wrote .

Downes could not be reached yesterday for comment.
In an interview, Rosen said he wasn't surprised by the decision.

"I took the legal process seriously ... but I never thought the case was a serious case. It was bizarre. It had no connection to reality," Rosen said.
Rosen's lawyer, Wilfrid Menninga, said the judge's ruling took into account evidence from Downes that was ruled to be improperly placed before the court.

"It's not just a technical decision. It was a decision on the merits [of the case]," Menninga said. "It was a complete exoneration of the mayor's position."

The judge ordered Downes to pay $5,500 of Rosen's legal costs, which is only a portion of Rosen's legal bill, which is more than $9,700.

Rosen said the city's insurance, which covers council members taken to court over municipal decisions, will cover his legal costs. It will be up to the insurance company, Rosen said, as to whether Downes will have to pay up.

Downes filed the civil action in March. Had Rosen been found guilty, he could have been removed from office.

In April 2004, Rosen announced that a task force he hand-picked had identified 4.7 hectares of land on the Inner Harbour as the ideal site for a new arena.

At a news conference on April 16, 2004, Rosen explained that to build there, the city needed to purchase nine-tenths of a hectare of land from Wright, who owns the Kingston Marina. He also owns K-Rock.

Rosen voted to build an arena on the site, but public outcry was largely responsible for moving it. The arena now stands at the corner of Barrack and Ontario streets.

Rosen declared a possible pecuniary interest this year when council approved a naming rights deal with K-Rock after he learned the radio station was the successful bidder. The name was kept secret until after the vote.

Council approved the deal, without Rosen voting or taking part in the debate. The deal is worth $3.3 million in cash and services over 10 years.
Rosen said he made the declaration because he didn't want to appear unduly influenced or biased. Afterward, Rosen said, he received legal advice that he had no pecuniary interest in the naming rights deal "but politically people perceive things differently than the law might draw."

The legal decision notes that Rosen Corp. signed a lease agreement with KRock in 2001 for space at 863 Princess St. Rosen signed the agreement as president of Rosen Corp., while John Wright signed the deal on behalf of KRock, the judge noted. Rosen signed the deal as "landlord of the property, and not in his personal capacity," the judge wrote.

In court, Downes argued unsuccessfully that the business relationship between Rosen Corp. and K-Rock created a pecuniary interest for Rosen in regards to city dealings with Wright.

During cross-examination, Kershman noted, Downes acknowledged there was no business partnership between the two.

"So we can ignore the words 'business partnership' because they purportedly refer only to the relationship of landlord and tenant, correct?" Downes was asked.

"I can agree with that, yes. That's fine,"Downes replied.

The lease, the judge ruled, was the only business dealing that existed between Rosen and Wright. "There was strictly a landlord and tenant relationship between Rosen Corp. and KRock [sic]. This is not the same as a business partnership," the ruling stated.

In court , Downes argued that Wright was a shareholder of K-Rock. Kershman wrote that none of the evidence Downes presented properly before the court proved this assertion correct.

"I make this statement as there are numerous materials submitted by [Downes] that are not properly before the court," the ruling stated.
In court, Downes tried to introduce city council documents, press releases, media reports and publicly available corporation information sheets as part of his case.

Downes didn't admit the documents as evidence as part of his affidavit in the case, Kershman wrote, nor did he admit them into evidence in the course of cross-examination of either himself or Rosen.

"I agree with [Rosen] that if [Downes] had wanted to place these documents into evidence, they should have been attached as exhibits to an affidavit," the judge ruled.

Kershman also wrote that there was no evidence to prove that a numbered company owned the Kingston Marina, or that Wright was a shareholder in that company.

The judge stated that Downes told the court that it is "common knowledge" in Kingston that Wright owns the marina. Other evidence that Downes presented, Kershman wrote, was proper evidence before the court.

"While this may appear to be evidence to [Downes], it is not evidence that is admissible in a court of law," Kershman wrote.

Downes narrowly lost the mayoralty to Rosen during the 2006 municipal election.

The $46.5 million K-Rock Centre opened on Feb. 22.

[Lydia]

Okay Folks, We are on now going to vote in a Federal election. I believe it is time now to stop picking on our Mayor Harvey in regards of his decision to go ahead with the LVEC./KROCK Centre. Many people are upset with him for how the KROCK was funded. We must now pay attention to how things will be done in the future.

Let us examine if anything has changed in the wording of agreements that the City will get when requesting funds from the Provincial and Federal governments in the future.

Mayor Harvey did receive a fax from the FEDERAL government representative Lawrence Cannon Federal Conservative Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities indicating that funding for the LVEC would be CONSIDERED IF two conditions were resolved. These conditions were resolved, however, the Federal Conservative Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Lawrence Cannon did NOT follow through with funding. It appeared to me that our Liberal Minister Peter Millikan didn’t show too much interest in this project. However Our Provincial Liberal Ministers Jim Watson and also John Gerreston tried their best to help get funding for our project and They did provide funding. .

Yes, I know that a consideration is NOT the same as approving funding. However, I also believe that any governmental body should NEVER EVER indicate a possibility of funding under certain conditions. However, if those conditions are met then the funding should be given without further strings attached. Either funding will take place or it won’t take place. It is similar to a Bait-and-Switch when you purchase anything. This is not allowed according to law when buying merchandize and therefore should NEVER EVER be done with governmental contracts or correspondence.

How can the Federal Government be trusted ever again? Should you trust them on a MAYBE???? This applies to us in Kingston and every community project in Canada. The Federal and Provincial governments have downloaded almost everything on communities. So what are they SOLELY AND FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR???

Should we be willing to accept MAYBE from our representatives? MAYBE we will fund health care, old age pension, infrastructure concerns, transportation issues, etc. I for one am tired of wasted tax dollars happening because some Federal or Provincial government representatives decides to bait-and switch us with MAYBE.

So in this election let us ask our Federal nominees what are they prepared to do to eliminate this type of communication that was given to Mayor of Kingston or any other municipality.

We blame him for this but he only presented the Communication to council. Council did the decision to go along with the project. They could have decided that MAYBE wasn’t good enough and turned down the project. So you see folks, Mayor Harvey was fighting for what he wanted and if you had wanted the same thing, you would not be picking on only him today.

Time to change the way the Federal, Provincial and Municipal communications work. How about a policy that says the following:

Once a municipality sets forth their projects and asks for funding from ANY levels of government, business organizations, boards, etc. and meets the requirements from those partners, that ALL funding is provided. However, if one of the partners CHOOSES not to support the venture then a flat NO. FUNDING. is given, instead of a CONSIDEREATION.




Mrs. Lydia MacPherson,
Past Chairperson, Loyalist Cataraqui Community Association

[Lydia]

My reply to a posting in the Whig

Proposal to close a city rink spices up budget deliberations


I don't think they are upset with the lowest tax increases in Ontario. I think they are upset with the fact that THIS council brings this city right back to where people told the previous council NOT TO BUILD THE KROCK where it is AND not to build the Investa either. These two buildings were SUPPOSE to have been build to replace ALL community rinks which every community told the PREVIOUS council to not proceed.
This is unfortunate situation for the employees at KROCK. They are never acknowledge for what THEY do that is positive. How many people out in the community know that STAFFERS AT THE KROCK actually saved 4 people's lives due to their training and ability to help others?
How many times did you call to speak with Staffers and have been spoken to joyfully and informatively even when I was lodging a complaint.
This city should definately change the MANAGEMENT DECISIONS and TALL SHIP PRICING decisions which caused our city a deficit. ($13.00 for hot dog and drink, 8.50 beer)
They Do need to keep staffers such as Kate Christiansen and Jennifer Burrows and place them in a much better facility. These two are more then welcomed to come out to the Envista as far as I am concerned. These two gals are EXACTLY the type of people WE need to make us WANT to attend Krock Functions.