Federal Government rejects Calgary for funding

[Bunk]

The explanation from Rempel, Harper and Obhrai is almost too unbelievable. P3 states it's a "coincidence" that sports projects were taken off the P3 website as eligible 2 hours after the Mayor's press conference that pointed out on the P3 website sports projects (rec centers) explicitly are eligible. Uh huh.

Calgary Tory MPs defend rejection of Calgary rec centre grant

Mayor Nenshi wants Ottawa to compensate for $3M cost of application

By Richard Cuthbertson, Calgary Herald November 25, 2011 10:05 PM


CALGARY — A local MP says a federal funding agency never had the legal authority to spend on recreation centres, appearing to contradict federal cabinet-approved documents and at odds with a city claim it was encouraged to apply for money for four new facilities.

The comment comes just a day after Calgary got word that PPP Canada is refusing to fund up to $100 million of the $430-million project, which would see three recreation centres built in the southeast and one in the northwest.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi continues to chide the federal government over its decision to refuse funding and is now demanding Ottawa compensate the city $3.1 million — money he says was spent on the failed bid...

...On Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a Calgary MP, also addressed the issue, saying recreation centres do not qualify.

“Those particular projects are not eligible for funding under the PPP program, under the 3P Canada,” he said. “And in fact, no such project of that nature has been funded anywhere in the country.”

But that hasn’t assuaged the frustration of the mayor, aldermen, and community groups, angry that huge amounts of time, effort and money were poured into the failed PPP Canada application for funding.

“It’s very clear in documents that were tabled in Parliament that these were eligible projects,” Nenshi said. “It’s not that the projects were bad — everyone agrees these are fantastic projects.

“If there was a miscommunication between the cabinet and the Crown corporation, then why in the world should the taxpayers of Calgary be paying $3 million for the mistake?”

On Thursday morning, the PPP Canada website said sports facilities were eligible, but the reference was taken down by the afternoon. Policy director Lisa Mitchell said it was simply a coincidence.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+Tory+defend+rejection+Calgary+centre+grant/5770071/story.html#ixzz1emv5Y0lQ

[SebC]

They're digging in! Pressure more!

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The explanation from Rempel, Harper and Obhrai is almost too unbelievable. P3 states it's a "coincidence" that sports projects were taken off the P3 website as eligible 2 hours after the Mayor's press conference that pointed out on the P3 website sports projects (rec centers) explicitly are eligible. Uh huh.

Wow... just wow. I'm speechless at what they did.

I'm going to give my local MP a call. And this is coming from a guy that never contacts a politician but this whole situation makes my blood boil.

[vanisleflamesfan]

I am surprised that many of you are surprised about this. Harper has been pretty wary of his image lately and the optics of this story are not great. Imagine the story if this was approved:

"Harper Government Buys Pools for the Rich"

(Calgary) The Harper government today approved $100 million in federal funding for a program which will put swimming pools in four neighbourhoods in Harper's home city of Calgary. The four neighbourhoods have average family incomes far above the national average...

Are you really surprised that this is not going to be done? Politics is a dirty game.

[bizaro86]

I got a defensive email back from my MPs assistant yesterday evening. Time to CP Jihad it up with emails to local MPs. Sending one from my wife's email account now...

[Addick]

If I was a grumpy old man this would be the perfect issue for me as I believe that these rec centres should have been privately financed and the Federal government's actions are inexcusable.

In regards to my first complaint, these recreation centres are a part of the product that is suburban housing and the inhabitants of these homes should be paying for the full price of the product that they are consuming. However, it appears as though the Federal Government clearly led the City to believe that they were eligible for this financing and the rubber stamp was simply a formality. Although the City made a mistake when it did not receive enough money through development levies and contributions, the Federal Government promised them a way out and, consequently, should be on the hook.

[Ducay]

Yes, clearly the Fed's official policies are set based on what appears on their website. they acknowledge they changed their policy to no longer accept such projects, please drop the website argument. It sucks being misled and having Calgary waste the money; but either way, using the website thing when emailing your MPs is pretty ridiculous.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Yes, clearly the Fed's official policies are set based on what appears on their website. they acknowledge they changed their policy to no longer accept such projects, please drop the website argument. It sucks being misled and having Calgary waste the money; but either way, using the website thing when emailing your MPs is pretty ridiculous.

Calgary was following the policy. When they (EDIT: the Conservatives) didn't want to follow it, they claimed that the policy was different, tried to hide the evidence, and got busted. They should be taken to task for that.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by SebC

Calgary was following the policy. When they didn't want to follow it, they claimed that the policy was different, tried to hide the evidence, and got busted. They should be taken to task for that.

Hiding evidence? PPP approved the project and then the feds changed the policy to not allow these types of projects; they're not acting as if these were never allowed and are trying to cover it all up by editing a website.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Hiding evidence? PPP approved the project and then the feds changed the policy to not allow these types of projects; they're not acting as if these were never allowed and are trying to cover it all up by editing a website.

They're saying rec centres aren't eligible, which was contradicted by their website and the P3 Canada corporate plan.

So yeah, it's a failed coverup.

[Bunk]

^ It's in Parliamentary documents including P3 Canada's Corporate Plan, which is approved by Cabinet. This sets out their mandate.

http://www.p3canada.ca/_files/file/P..._2009_2014.pdf

Pg 55 of 67

P3 Canada approached the City of Calgary specifically because we had a rec centre proposal. It should be noted that P3 Canada's board unanimously approved Calgary's proposal. When it went for the final signature from the Finance Minister (way back in the spring) it stopped - and took them about 8 months to finally say no.

[Madman]

The City has found funding on it's own to build the 4 rec centres.

Council gave the long-awaited green light to four new rec centres in northwest and southeast Calgary, finding new dollars from the GST rebate and elsewhere after a federal agency reneged its assistance.

The projects will be built as planned earlier: large recreation complexes in the deep southeast near the hospital and in the northwest corner, and smaller southeast centres in Quarry Park and Great Plains Industrial Park

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...534/story.html

[Byrns]

They found an extra $100 million laying about???

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Will rec centers be the issue that tips the scales toward separatism?


I hope so

'Give me liberty or death! no taxation without recreation'

[Northendzone]

personally, i am not bent out shape about what level of government the funds come from as the money all ultimately comes from the same pot - the taxpayer......it will be nice to seem them building some new rec centers.

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by Byrns

They found an extra $100 million laying about???

The NW one is being partially paid for by the oil wells soon to be drilled by the Royal Oak Walmart.

[Fire]

Finally...this city is in desperate need for rec centres.

[moncton golden flames]

sure would be nice to have an inner city recreation centre....

[Azure]

In the long-term its actually a good investment for the public to make. Giving kids something to do will keep them from getting involved in gangs or other crime related stuff, and we won't have to spend money putting them through the system should that happen.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

sure would be nice to have an inner city recreation centre....

Talisman Centre, YMCA are certainly nothing to sneeze at. Plus there a bunch of City-owned smaller fitness and aquatic centres like Killarney, Beltline, Inglewood, Renfrew etc.

Anyway, great news about these rec centres. Anyone who's stepped foot in the Genesis Centre knows how desperately these facilities are needed. Genesis, including its library is absolutely packed. Keep in mind that three of these 4 centres will have a new library branch as well.

It certainly was no easy task to make the financing work when the $100m vanished. City Staff did yeoman's work. The Mayor was insistent that we make this a reality. Kudos as well to all the volunteer societies in the NW and SE that did so much work to make this happen.