Quote:
Originally Posted by GordonBlue
Except for the part where the provincial government should give nothing.
If they did implement your plan, make it for the public good
Field house s, rec centres, community ice rinks
Not to make billionates more money
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Public good is an exceedingly nebulous term that seems to be used to support someone's political views or agenda.
For example, Rec Centres are a public good, sure. But if they're built in Seton or Rocky Ridge rather than the Beltline or East Village or other areas the city is aggressively (spending tens or hundreds of millions) trying to densify, aren't they promoting things like sprawl and forcing infrastructure costs since they are encouraging unsustainable and expensive expansion? Then who's "public good" are they serving? There's an equally valid counter argument the other way, but it should be clear how easy it is to bend "public good".
Professional sports aren't a "public good" on their face, but if they give back millions to amateur sport, market the city, promote discretionary spending that supports thousands of jobs, and encourage development in trouble spots, they might be. We're all aware of John Oliver and the papers that denounce public funding on professional sport facilities, but yet, its something that most markets agree is a public-private partnership (though majority private since most direct economic benefits go there).
While CalgaryNext may or may not check those boxes... Plan B probably will and the city and province can't be expected to reap the rewards of a new Arena and Stadium without chipping in
something, whether its direct cash, or cash in the form of land, upgrades, tax breaks, etc. Every reasonable argument acknowledges that to some point.
The suggestion I made showed how the Province can do that with essentially money that exists because of the Calgary Flames (or Edmonton Oilers in their case). Multimillionaire players would not be paying Alberta tax in a "Seattle Flames" scenario.
A cynical argument might be that rather than wasting billions on shuttering coal plants a few years early pushing an agenda that many would say is radical and not campaigned on, the Province may as well spend millions on something that enriches the culture, economy, and livability of its largest city.