[News Roundup] CSEC/City arena deal UPDATED: Third Party Facilitator

[Scornfire]

Wow, what a ####ing shill kenney is

[Scornfire]

Originally Posted by Press Level

Not a fan of Kenney, but he was asked the question and provided an answer that is in line with what a lot of other people (including many here) are saying. I'm not sure how that's "inappropriate."

We don't have a national platform, and the people saying "stuff like that" are woefully underinformed, much like the premier

[Press Level]

Originally Posted by Scornfire

We don't have a national platform, and the people saying "stuff like that" are woefully underinformed, much like the premier

Sorry, I haven't read through this entire thread, but do you have some insider knowledge about why the deal fell through? As a complete outsider myself, it appears the city moved the goalposts at the last minute, then the mayor went on a twitter spree to point the finger of blame in another direction.



Is Kenney's take correct? I have no idea. But based on the publicly available information, it doesn't appear to be "inappropriate."

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Press Level

Sorry, I haven't read through this entire thread, but do you have some insider knowledge about why the deal fell through? As a complete outsider myself, it appears the city moved the goalposts at the last minute, then the mayor went on a twitter spree to point the finger of blame in another direction.



Is Kenney's take correct? I have no idea. But based on the publicly available information, it doesn't appear to be "inappropriate."

Does it matter? This, apparently, is what most people will believe.

[Slava]

I don't know why the deal fell through and surely people like Bunk have a lot more insight than me. But Kenney was asked and that's the only reason he was speaking to it.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Press Level

Sorry, I haven't read through this entire thread, but do you have some insider knowledge about why the deal fell through? As a complete outsider myself, it appears the city moved the goalposts at the last minute, then the mayor went on a twitter spree to point the finger of blame in another direction.

Is Kenney's take correct? I have no idea. But based on the publicly available information, it doesn't appear to be "inappropriate."

You don't need to read the whole thread, but even just the posts from this afternoon will give you some more perspective.

Kenney is just taking shots because it is a chance to make Gondek and the city the villains because it is politically convenient and aligns with what his base wants to believe.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't know why the deal fell through and surely people like Bunk have a lot more insight than me. But Kenney was asked and that's the only reason he was speaking to it.

He can speak to it, that's fine. He shouldn't be pointing fingers.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Why is Kenny even commenting? The province shouldn't be giving any comment unless they're going to be involved in the process...

...Kenny gonna try to get involved in funding to boost Calgary numbers in polling?

To be fair he was asked

[Ozy_Flame]

Correct response: "That's not something myself or my administration can comment on at this time".

Kenney's response: Let's see who I can publicly throw under the bus the hardest.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by dino7c

To be fair he was asked

And he has a go-to response he could have used. "I reject the premise of the question."

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

You don't need to read the whole thread, but even just the posts from this afternoon will give you some more perspective.

Kenney is just taking shots because it is a chance to make Gondek and the city the villains because it is politically convenient and aligns with what his base wants to believe.

*Feels Unclean for explaining*

Look...I havent seen the reply in context, but he was asked a question and gave an answer. It paints the City in something of a bad light, but The City and Gondek were the ones who came out first to disclose the news.

I think the real truth is that the timing for all of this is awful for both parties, but the City comes out looking the worse for this. But it goes back to what calf had said, there was no need for any of this from any side but one side took the initiative to start rolling this ball.

If you're going to do that then you have to be prepared to take the lumps associated with it.

There are a million different scenarios, but the City could easily have just said and done nothing until the deadline passed and then shrugged their shoulders and said that everything was fine but CSEC didnt reply by the deadline and ergo the deal has lapsed.

But they didnt do that.

There is a lot of crap on a lot of faces here. Kenney is an idiot, but this seems like a nothingburger. He was asked a question for which he probably has little information, and even if he did...the man has the IQ of a turnip.

There are lots of things to blame Kenney for and I for one welcome him digging his own political grave, but this just doesnt really seem like a huge big deal.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by dino7c

To be fair he was asked

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Correct response: "That's not something myself or my administration can comment on at this time".

Kenney's response: Let's see who I can publicly throw under the bus the hardest.

That's the response the premier would typically give, since they wouldn't want to get involved in funding for major sport venues where the primary tenant and the city can cover the costs. When the province was asked if they could chip in for Rogers Place, they said they will not get involved, and that the city already has money that the province has given to them that they can use.

The neutral response is the appropriate response. But as mentioned, it helps gain points from his base to make the city look bad here.

I still don't understand why Gondek had to go out with the combative tweet saying the deal was dead. When they announced last spring that the deal was on hold to figure out issues, they've could've done the same thing here. Now it's such a polarized topic again, whereas it doesn't need to be. And I can't imagine that this council wants this to go on long enough for it to be another election issue once again; considering who knows what's in store in the next 4 years for this city.

[dino7c]

If he blamed the Flames some of you would be good with it


City losing a major building project and potentially an NHL team is his business

Flames have an 80+M payrolll (tax payers) and they employ hundreds of Albertans

Not that he will be in charge by the time either way

[DiracSpike]

Yes, how dare Kenney say exactly what happened.

You can try to blame the design review team, or the process, or say this is standard, but clearly the city was happy to add these extra costs and features in after the fact. It's not like these changes came from the sky and both sides were unhappy to see them, if both sides didn't want them there's no way to overrule the "Design Review Panel"?? Just look at that laundry list of pork. Photovoltaic cells? Anyone bother to see what the solar farms are contributing to Alberta's grid right now? How was this remotely necessary. Expanded bike parking?? I know I love riding my bike in the winter to Flames games and then wobbling home in -30 afterwards. No wonder they balked at this.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Joborule

That's the response the premier would typically give, since they wouldn't want to get involved in funding for major sport venues where the primary tenant and the city can cover the costs. When the province was asked if they could chip in for Rogers Place, they said they will not get involved, and that the city already has money that the province has given to them that they can use.

The neutral response is the appropriate response. But as mentioned, it helps gain points from his base to make the city look bad here.

I still don't understand why Gondek had to go out with the combative tweet saying the deal was dead. When they announced last spring that the deal was on hold to figure out issues, they've could've done the same thing here. Now it's such a polarized topic again, whereas it doesn't need to be. And I can't imagine that this council wants this to go on long enough for it to be another election issue once again; considering who knows what's in store in the next 4 years for this city.

Well, that’s what she was told and rightly or wrongly she was trying to get out ahead of it.

Kenney’s comments just show a lack of understanding of how the deal even worked. So he should just say “too bad”. If he wants to make a pro-business comment, whatever. Now he’s opened himself up to be corrected (again).

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

Yes, how dare Kenney say exactly what happened.

You can try to blame the design review team, or the process, or say this is standard, but clearly the city was happy to add these extra costs and features in after the fact. It's not like these changes came from the sky and both sides were unhappy to see them, if both sides didn't want them there's no way to overrule the "Design Review Panel"?? Just look at that laundry list of pork. Photovoltaic cells? Anyone bother to see what the solar farms are contributing to Alberta's grid right now? How was this remotely necessary. Expanded bike parking?? I know I love riding my bike in the winter to Flames games and then wobbling home in -30 afterwards. No wonder they balked at this.

It’s been shown several times how this isn’t adding after the fact - it’s specifying items under an agreed heading. And were you aware that the arena would have been used in all seasons? Weird, eh?

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Locke

*Feels Unclean for explaining*

Look...I havent seen the reply in context, but he was asked a question and gave an answer. It paints the City in something of a bad light, but The City and Gondek were the ones who came out first to disclose the news.

I think the real truth is that the timing for all of this is awful for both parties, but the City comes out looking the worse for this. But it goes back to what calf had said, there was no need for any of this from any side but one side took the initiative to start rolling this ball.

If you're going to do that then you have to be prepared to take the lumps associated with it.

There are a million different scenarios, but the City could easily have just said and done nothing until the deadline passed and then shrugged their shoulders and said that everything was fine but CSEC didnt reply by the deadline and ergo the deal has lapsed.

But they didnt do that.

There is a lot of crap on a lot of faces here. Kenney is an idiot, but this seems like a nothingburger. He was asked a question for which he probably has little information, and even if he did...the man has the IQ of a turnip.

There are lots of things to blame Kenney for and I for one welcome him digging his own political grave, but this just doesnt really seem like a huge big deal.

I don't disagree with most of this. I never said that it was a big deal let alone a controversy. And yes, he was just answering a question that he was asked. And yes, he's politically dead for all sorts of valid reasons.

But from what I'm seeing and hearing in my own limited circle of friends, social media, including a lot of solid Flames fans, is that people are mostly blaming the CSEC for the deal falling apart or are indifferent/apathetic. Most are also relieved. I'm not seeing many fingers being pointed at the city, with the exception of (ironically) the most conservative voices. So yes, I do believe that Kenney should know better at this point, but couldn't help himself from taking a shot anyway because of his dwindling but excitable base.

[Yoho]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1478523788102885380

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

Yes, how dare Kenney say exactly what happened.

You can try to blame the design review team, or the process, or say this is standard, but clearly the city was happy to add these extra costs and features in after the fact. It's not like these changes came from the sky and both sides were unhappy to see them, if both sides didn't want them there's no way to overrule the "Design Review Panel"?? Just look at that laundry list of pork. Photovoltaic cells? Anyone bother to see what the solar farms are contributing to Alberta's grid right now? How was this remotely necessary. Expanded bike parking?? I know I love riding my bike in the winter to Flames games and then wobbling home in -30 afterwards. No wonder they balked at this.

You know the arena would be used besides in the winter, right?

[Scary Eloranta]

So now what? We wait 11 years until the Flames lease is up and go through another ten thousand rounds of this crap again, only to see it fall apart?