To the Hon. James Flaherty,
Dept. of Finance Canada
140 O'Connor St., Ottawa, Ont.
K1A - OG5
I am a resident of Kingston, Ont. where I have lived most of my life except for
military service.
There are serious issues that commenced at the beginning of 2004 following the
municipal election of the present mayor, Harvey Rosen which many in this
community believe to be the worst situation in Kingston's 333 year history.
The main focus of this communication is the strong objection of federal grants
toward the proposed construction of an arena/entertainment centre known as the
LVEC concocted by a non-elected committee except for one councillor which took
place in April 2004.
The most recent cost is estimated (and it is believed only an estimate) to be
approx.
38 millions and another project known as the multiplex in the north west
outskirts of the city to build a four pad iceskating arena is estimated at 40
millions passed by the mayor and the same nine council members out voting the
usual four councillors on nearly all issues presented to council in this regard.
This proposal remains a proposal at this date despite which many believe is the
mayor's persistent "done deal" and has increased the tempo of resentment with
letters and e-mails to the local media as well as both council and public
meetings until the mayor along with some council members passed a set of
Speakers Rules in the fall of 2004 which curtailed speaking at meetings as we
once knew it.
Correspondence objection on record claim this mayor has gone out of control.
Forthcoming communications will show this project is a shoe-horn project that
simply does not fit and wanton waste of money complete with strangled traffic on
a 333 year old small city blocks.
Much of this community comprising of teachers, military personnel, some faculty
and staff members of Queen's University, union members and in general from all
walks of life find themselves in a day to day state of worry and anxiety fearful
of what is going to happen next.
The citizens of this community want to get on with their lives and we believe
federal and provincial grants of this kind will prove to be highly detrimental
to all of us and we prefer to believe the federal government would not wish to
inflict this upon our citizens.
Last November I made it known that I was preparing to launch a disclosure to the
National Royal Canadian Legion in Ottawa and the media because of plans by this
same mayor to sell our local Memorial Centre which is a large arena dedicated by
the then Viscount Alexander of WW 2 and later Governor-General of Canada.
The sale of the Memorial Centre was intended to help finance the above noted
arena/enter. LVEC and I believe the Memorial Centre existence is still in
jeopardy.
I am indebted to a councillor for her help and encouragement in this regard
which halted plans and I believe is temporary and regrettably I did not pursue
this action but I fully intend to follow it through in the near future.
Thank you for your kind attention to this.
Hugh Stafford
hugh.stafford@sympatico.ca
"Take Kingston Back To The Community"