Is canal project in jeopardy?

Today’s blog question:  What do you think the best use is for the funds from the sale of Brighton Beach, rumoured to be between $25-30 million?  Email or write your suggestions below.

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“We can’t afford to throw money at this,” said Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac. “Our industrial tax base is disappearing, our residential taxpayers are losing their jobs. At the same time, we have a stream of people saying help us. Where are we going to get the money?”

I can’t wait for the discussion regarding the city’s proposed canal project for downtown.  At a cost of upwards of $50-million plus land acquisition it will be interesting to hear the arguments for funding it.

Because how can city councillors cry poor over a $450,000 loan request to the Art Gallery of Windsor while in the next breath find the truck loads of cash required to begin a phased construction – the most expensive way to undertake this project incidentally.

And there could be a fly in the ointment known as Mayor Francis’ “vision” of seeking infrastructure dollars from the provincial and federal governments to realise it.

570 News in Cambridge, Ontario reported that Infrastructure Minister George Smitherman told Cambridge city council they’ve “got to have priorities.”

Cambridge city council is being told to choose between an expanded Cambridge Memorial Hospital or a new arts centre:

…When asked about funding for Cambridge Memorial Hospital and the new arts centre in Cambridge for Drayton Theatre, George Smitherman told The Record, quote, “you’ve got to have priorities and sometimes one has to give way to the other.”

Mayor Doug Craig says even if the province pulls the funding for the arts centre, the city will find another source of money.

What will it be in Windsor?  The airport cargo hub?  Investments into providing serviceable land?  The College Avenue bridge; the $300-million plus in watermain and sewer projects highlighted in the city’s infrastructure wish list - or the “canal”?

Mayor Francis has been quite clear the canal project is an “infrastructure” project, as the July 29, 2008 Windsor Star reported:

 ”The city is not getting involved with any of the developments,” he said. “The city will be doing what we should be — investing in infrastructure. By doing this, we give the city a chance to do bigger and better things.

And the Mayor also hinted on A-News that federal and provincial infrastructure money may be available – a point reiterated by BIA spokesperson, Larry Horwitz in front of the space ship sculpture on the riverfront:

“It could be a new view of what the city can be and what the city should become,” he said. “But it can’t be rinky dink. You need to take time to do it right.”

The project is doable financially, but will need support from the provincial and federal government, Horwitz said (April 3, 2009, Windsor Star).

But given the Hon. George Smitherman’s words to Cambridge city council, is the canal project in jeopardy before it is even out of the gates?  Will he tell Windsor city council to set their priorities – their infrastructure wish list or a 300 meter long canal?

Or will city council “decide” to use the funds from the sale of Brighton Beach to the Federal government to pour into the canal project?

Or is this just another exercise in a desperate attempt by the Mayor and council to portray our provincial MPPs as having no clout at Queen’s Park over their stance as it relates to the city’s Greenlink proposal?

Because if the city cannot afford a mere $450,000 loan, how can city council, in the Mayor’s own words:

…discuss putting aside some funding for the canal project before it completes its budget deliberations over the next month, Francis said.

In Eddie I trust!  See how easy it is…