City councillors, unsure how they could pay for it and with a wary eye on the coming election, still approved a four-pad waterfront arena Thursday, Aug. 26, that could cost $88 million.
The stacked design on Commissioners Street in the port lands "is a gamble," Trinity-Spadina Councillor Adam Vaughan said before the vote, because the city has only $34 million for the project so far.No matter what councillors chose, he predicted, election opponents would use it against them, saying they either don't love hockey or spent too much.Mike Del Grande sided with the latter opinion. He tried a motion directing staff to spend no more than $34 million, saying Toronto Council must "live within the budget that's been given - that's the problem here."Some agreed, including Raymond Cho, a fellow Scarborough councillor who asked how he could tell constituents the city cannot afford a soccer field for them if it builds a new multi-level ice palace in the port lands."If we spend $54 million (of city funds) on this thing, what about the community centre (I want) in my ward?" he added.Other councillors defended what they say will be an "iconic building," supported by the hockey community, that will draw visitors and developers to the waterfront."Buildings, done well, can animate the city," said Norm Kelly, adding the next city council may not find enough money for the arena, "but why pass on the opportunity?"Vaughan noted the federal government offered the money solely for a waterfront project and, should it fail, may use it to build arenas in Huntsville.Del Grande's motion failed, as did Doug Holyday's attempt to simply receive a report on the arena for information - passing it to the next council - and John Parker's to endorse the project in principle, but with further study on its design and configuration, "with particular attention to construction and operating costs."In the end, the arena proposal passed unaltered, 22 to 17.Staff reported the city "will continue to review possible financing options," including an ice-time surcharge, which some councillors and hockey league officials agree may cover up to $25 million of the price.All four proposed rinks are National Hockey League-sized. A report said the bottom rink in the stack could be built to accommodate an Olympic-sized ice surface, as the Toronto Speed Skating Club has requested, but that would increase design and construction costs.- Mike Adler