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Old 04-23-2018, 07:05 AM   #22
sureLoss
Some kinda newsbreaker!
 
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Metro reporting Councillors are trying to restart arena negotiations:

https://www.thestar.com/calgary/2018...ry-flames.html

Quote:
City councillors are hatching plans to form a new negotiating team in a bid to jump-start stalled arena talks with the owners of the Calgary Flames, StarMetro has learned.

At least 10 councillors are directly involved in or aware of recent meetings in which elected officials have discussed drafting a notice of motion calling on council to strike a new committee — one that may exclude past brokers from both parties.

“Initially, it should be new blood that’s on it to give it a different perspective than we’re getting now,” said Coun. Ray Jones.

“The longer we leave it, the more it just kind of goes away,” he explained. “Everybody right now is gung ho to get going on it, and I think we should take advantage of that.”
Quote:
Six months later, councillors are itching to return to the table but have been reluctant to reveal their recent meetings to restart talks.

“Stay tuned,” Coun. Sutherland hinted last week when asked by reporters for an update on the arena.

In an interview, Coun. Chu downplayed the significance of discussions to strike a new committee. “At this time, it’s just chat,” Chu said.

Lori Williams, associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University, said councillors might be wary of voter backlash given many Calgarians supported Nenshi’s position.

“I suppose it does make sense to try to get new people to the negotiating table so that any animosities that may be lingering from the breakdown of negotiations in the past would not be part of this,” Williams said.

“That said, there may be those who say, ‘Look, the mayor took a very hard line saying that he wants to stand up for taxpayers,’ and some of those taxpayers like the idea of a tough negotiator and want the mayor involved in the process.”

Efforts to rejuvenate negotiations with the Flames could be seen as yet another move to curtail Nenshi’s control of high-profile projects, such as the city’s gaffe-prone bid to host the 2026 Olympic Games.
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