Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
$11.8M government funding for hockey complex
KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image
MP Rod Bruinooge, (from left), Premier Gary Doer and President of the Treasury Board Vic Toews announce funding for infrastructure projects.
In the same way that clouds have silver linings, the current recession will benefit Winnipeg hockey players.
Politicians trying to stimulate the economy this morning announced funding for a new four-rink hockey complex near the west Perimeter Highway. The federal and provincial governments announced funding of $11.8 million towards the total cost of $25 million for the complex, which will be called the True North Mooseplex Hockey Canada Centre. One sheet of ice will have seating for 1,500 people.
The funding for the rink complex and other projects is part of an infrastructure spending spree designed to provide jobs.
Funding was also announced today for other Manitoba projects, including:
- Refurbishment of the Manitoba Centennial Centre
- Manitoba Sikh Cultural and Seniors Centre
- A new United Way headquarters near the Disraeli Freeway
- A Winnipeg Harvest Community Food Distribution and Training Centre
- A Salvation Army Multicultural Family Centre
"Investing in infrastructure is a triple win for Manitoba," said Premier Doer. "We're stimulating the economy, creating jobs and building a better tomorrow for all Manitobans, and today's announcement reaffirms the province's commitment to building and renewing infrastructure in Manitoba."
The rink complex will be a 172,000-square-foot multiplex facility that includes such amenities as four North American regulation-sized ice pads, 20 player dressing rooms, along with a pro shop, concession and vending, and 30,000 square feet of leasable space to be used for a restaurant, high performance training facilities and office space for True North Sports & Entertainment, Hockey Canda and Hockey Manitoba.
"We are very thankful for the contributions of the federal government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba," said True North Sports & Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman. "Manitobans themselves as a whole are responsible for the success enjoyed thus far by MTS Centre and True North Sports & Entertainment over our first five years. This is our way of re-investing that show of faith in the community.
The True North Hockey Canada Mooseplex results in a further expansion of the True North Sports & Entertainment footprint in Winnipeg with the addition of the four-ice sheet multi-plex into its family of companies," said True North Sports & Entertainment President & CEO, Jim Ludlow. "The True North Hockey Canada Mooseplex will serve as a value-added facility for amateur ice sports in Manitoba as well as a facility for excellence in hockey programming for all players - male and female, young and old - to come and learn about the game and enjoy themselves at all levels of hockey.
For further information, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.
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PREVIOUS
13 Comments
Posted by: Brrr
May 30, 2009 at 2:47 AM
This is a great project. There is a serious shortage of available rinks in the city. It's almost impossible to book practice ice mid season. The location should have been given more thought, but I guess it will be great for people in Headingly.
Posted by: Yamahammer
May 30, 2009 at 12:35 AM
I guess this is Chipman's way to emulate the Aspers. We will no doubt see cost overruns on this inane project and we'll have to throw more money at it. Maybe Mr. Chipman could squirrel some of that money away towards buying an NHL Franchise?
I want progress as much as anyone but I tire of seeing the same old names and faces lining up at the public trough to fund their private enterprises. Public infrastructure has many True needs and another hockey rink sure isn't one!
Posted by: calvin114
May 29, 2009 at 11:15 PM
We are a have not province with the 2nd highest debt in the country and a federal government 50 billion in the red, blow every nickel and then cry you have no money then raise taxes.
Posted by: julia gulia
May 29, 2009 at 10:37 PM
My understanding about stimulus packages is 2-fold, to encourage spending and encouraging investment which will encourage further spending.
With the allotments going to worthwhile projects as listed by the Premier, would it not be common sense to also spend infrastructure monies into schools that are aging or need expansions? This would be a different kind of win-win that would insure further spending in our youth by securing them as the ULTIMATE INVESTMENT.
Posted by: winnipeg_girl
May 29, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Sorry...but I happen to think this is a fantastic idea. How many of the previous commenters also poo-pooed the MTS Centre being put downtown? This facility will not only provide a service that our city desperately needs (if you aren't a hockey player or a hockey player's girlfriend, you probably don't know how hard it is to get ice time in our city...it's no fun having a practice at 3:00 am because that's the only time you could get), but it will also help attract more major hockey tournaments to the city which, as we know from past experiences, will result in money being pumped back into the community and the municipal/provincial infrastructure coffers. It's a win-win situation!
Posted by: beau
May 29, 2009 at 6:01 PM
This is bogus. I can think of numerous ways $11.8 million dollars could be used to benefit everyone, not just those who happen to enjoy hockey.
Or increase the funding for the worthwhile projects.
Posted by: Mad as Hell
May 29, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Pay down your debt before you invest in Sports complexes.
Posted by: MYhonestOPINION
May 29, 2009 at 3:50 PM
I think it should be called "THE CHIPMAN TRUE NORTH HOCKEY CANADA MOOSEPLEX AND WATERPARK"...since they are giving away land and money, why not combine the effort.
Posted by:
May 29, 2009 at 3:39 PM
DaPegger: we can't consult with 600,000 people every time we want to build something! Yes, I agree we should revitalize the innercity, but we can't people everything! Once and a while it's ok to build something close to where the bulk of the people in this city live!
Posted by: good_dude
May 29, 2009 at 3:13 PM
What???
Who asked for this? No one.
I've never heard anyone say we need more rink space in this city. This is a waste of money and if they think anyone will drive way the h*ll out to the perimeter to watch people practice, they're nuts. This is also urban sprawl at its worst. Put that money into state of the art community centres in EXISTING neighbourhoods, which are declining. or, into an inner city year-round soccer complex. Now that's a sport that's expanding.
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