Moose Javians set to vote, again, on new arena project

CBC SPORTS: Thursday, February 19, 2009 |

People in Moose Jaw are one week away from a second round of voting on what has become a multi-year battle over a proposed multiplex arena project. The plan is to replace the city's aging Civic Centre, the current home to the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL. That building's sloping roof has earned it the sobriquet, "crushed can." Over the years, detractors of the centre, built in 1959, have said it is too small and noisy, and has problems with sight lines. The WHL says the building is not up to its standards and has threatened to move the local team if improvements are not made. Supporters of a new facility thought they had a green light in 2005, when Moose Jaw city council endorsed a plan for a $36.3-million building to include seating for 4,500 hockey fans, and an attached curling rink. That proposal was affirmed in a referendum in 2006, when 71 per cent of people who cast ballots voted in favour of the city contributing $15 million to the project. Other levels of government, and the private sector, were to be approached to fund the balance needed for construction.

Two years later, however, controversy erupted when new costs were unveiled for a more ambitious capital spending plan. In 2008, Moose Jaw council approved a $61.2-million multiplex ice arena for hockey and curling, plus an indoor soccer facility. Levy on tax bill estimated to last 25 years. The city proposed to increase property taxes for its roughly 32,000 residents to cover its share of the ballooning expense, estimated to be double what had been pledged three years earlier. The city estimated the impact on taxes would be an immediate jump of 9.72 for each property owner, and noted that the additional levy would be on the tax bill for 25 years.

While the city believed it could move forward based on the previous referendum and the new costs, some citizens disagreed and pressed the matter in the courts. They asked a judge to force the city to hold another referendum. While they lost the legal battle, the critics won a second trip to the polls after city council decided to conduct a new vote anyway.

The 2009 referendum asks voters to say if they approve or disapprove of the following statement: "That the City of Moose Jaw reaffirm its financial commitment of $34,530,560 toward the construction of a hockey arena, curling and indoor soccer facilities." Voting is set for Feb. 25. "I don't know if we can afford it or not," one resident stopped on a downtown street recently told CBC News. "But in the same way I would like to see a multiplex. So, I don't know. I'm indecisive." Other Moose Javians expressed unqualified support. "Get her built," said one. "Anyone who don't want it built is silly." Polls opened at 9 a.m. local time on Thursday and close at 8 pm. City officials expect to be able to release preliminary results within an hour of polls closing. An official tally will be delivered to Moose Jaw city council the following Friday afternoon. In the previous referendum 7,051 votes were cast in favour of the 2005 plan. There were 2,822 votes against.