U of M stadium project heads to completion
IN their strongest language yet, the main players involved in the construction of a new stadium for Winnipeg said Wednesday a deal is imminent.
Senior Manitoba MP Vic Toews said he met with stadium proponent David Asper Wednesday morning to iron out additional details, and Mayor Sam Katz confirmed the city has already signed onto the deal, which will see a new football stadium built at the University of Manitoba.
"Every day we're making sure if we hit a nitpicking dispute we settle it," Premier Gary Doer added.
Toews said the stadium fits into Ottawa's plan to launch major infrastructure projects to ward off the deepening economic crisis in Canada.
"I'm optimistic we can come to some agreement very shortly," Toews said, adding the project fits federal criteria on two levels: It benefits amateur sports and a shovel can be in the ground quickly.
"We don't have to make this project fit the program," he said. "The program fits this project."
Toews added discussions have still to take place in Ottawa on securing the $15 million in federal money needed for the project, but that doesn't seem to be a problem.
"It can be done in fairly short order," he said.
Doer said it's hoped a tentative agreement can be put in place for the Jan. 16 first ministers' meeting in Ottawa. Ottawa has already told the provinces it wants to fast-track infrastructure projects scheduled to be built over the next two years to spark Canada's economy.
"Everything seems to be moving in the right direction," Doer said.
Asper said he appreciated Toews and his staff for the time they spent doing the due diligence required for the project.
"We are ready to get going and I'm hopeful that a number of outstanding issues can be resolved in the very near future," he said.
The stadium project was announced almost four months ago and is to see Asper and his Creswin Properties Ltd. development company front a large part of the $135-million project at the U of M.
Asper has said he will commit up to $100 million toward the new home for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The province would contribute $20 million and Ottawa $15 million. It involves a 30,000-seat stadium for the Bombers and the U of M Bisons football team, improving the track-and-field facility at University Stadium and building a new amateur fitness centre to replace the aging Frank Kennedy Centre.
The province estimates it can earn about $19.6 million in taxes on the stadium and related construction alone.
Katz said the city has already agreed to the project: "Our deal with Creswin has been signed. The deal is very simple: There is a sale of the (Polo Park) land at fair market value, and they will pay property taxes and business taxes. End of story. It's a commercial development. And then, they will use revenues from the commercial development to subsidize the new stadium.
"When the private sector comes forward and puts in this kind of investment, this is a win-win for everybody."
Katz said the money from Ottawa will be new, incremental money, not part of what the province will get from the $33-billion Building Canada Fund.
"If they could do this somewhere in the New Year or before that, that would be awesome," Katz added. "I think it's time to put this one to bed and move on."
John Danakas, spokesman for U of M, said discussions continue.
"There doesn't seem to be any serious obstacles in the way," said.
bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca
-- with a file from Bartley Kives
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A new home for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is to be built at the University of Manitoba. Media mogul and sports fan David Asper appears just inches away from the goal-line in his quest for a new football stadium for the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
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