City lawmakers are pushing to seek nearly $1 billion from Ottawa to fund what they call a badly-needed sports field house and extension to the northeast Blue Line LRT.
Federal Funding Request
City council's governmental affairs committee will debate a recommendation to request the federal money that would also earmark $190 million for critical infrastructure that would largely fund water projects. Another $320 million would go towards the city's GamePLAN recreational facilities strategy that would include a multi-sport field house that would likely be constructed at Foothills Athletic Park just north of McMahon Stadium.
RouteAhead Transportation Plan
The city's 30-year RouteAhead transportation and transit plan, in part, involves extending the LRT Blue Line's northeast leg from Saddletowne Station to 88th Avenue, Country Hills Boulevard and ultimately Redstone, said Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal, who sits on the committee. The province, he said, has only committed to funding to push the line to 88th Avenue N.E. while Ottawa has made no such vow.
"If (the federal government) is serious about helping communities, we have an avid need and there's lots of money there," he said. The money would come from Ottawa's 10-year, $51-billion Building Communities Strong Fund.
Recreation Infrastructure Needs
As for recreational facilities, Calgary is the only major Canadian city without a multi-sport field house, while Edmonton has several that attract athletes and families from afar, providing an economic boost, said Dhaliwal. "We are catching up to what we needed 15 years ago," he said. City officials say 70 per cent of Calgary recreation infrastructure is more than 75 years old with much of it needing replacement or upgrades.
Wave 1 of the GamePLAN includes 17 sites throughout the city for either renewal or new builds, such as the Rocky Ridge Fieldhouse now under construction. A committee focusing on the multi-sport field house will meet June 26 to discuss a project that Dhaliwal said could cost between $400 million and $500 million.
Additional Funding Requests
Also recommended by city administrators is funding for public safety and the Prairie Economic Gateway, the latter a planned logistical hub on the city's east side in partnership with Rocky View County. It's believed it would create 30,000 jobs and generate $7 billion in economic activity. Dhaliwal noted recent provincial legislation makes it mandatory for federal funding to municipalities to first go through the Alberta government. "These are just asks, we will still respect our jurisdiction," he said.
With recent increases in the province's share of city property taxes, Calgary now only retains 53 per cent of those funds collected, said Ward 9 Coun. Harrison Clark.
