Coun. Devi Sharma will decide fate of water-park proposal

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This article was published 24/04/2012 (5209 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IF no one on city council changes their mind over the next 24 hours, the fate of Winnipeg’s proposed water-park subsidy will rest with Old Kildonan Coun. Devi Sharma.

On Wednesday, council will debate a plan to sell the city-owned surface lot known as Parcel Four for $6 million to Alberta hotel chain Canalta, which intends to build a 250-room hotel, 50,000-square-foot water park and 450-stall parkade on the site at the southwest corner of Waterfront Drive and William Stephenson Way. The proposal calls for the city to offer Canalta a $7-million grant in exchange for $700,000 worth of admission credits every year for the next 25 years.

Seven city councillors have announced their intention to vote in favour of the plan, while seven plan to vote against it. Since Mayor Sam Katz has recused himself from all votes regarding Parcel Four, the deciding vote lies with Sharma.

“I’ve not made my decision,” the rookie councillor said Monday via email. “(I’m) still waiting for some answers and reviewing concerns raised by both those who support the project and those who do not.”

Katz has recused himself because is the majority owner of the Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball club, which plays at Shaw Park, immediately north of Parcel Four.

The councillors who have said they intend to vote in favour of the plan are Justin Swandel (St. Norbert), Scott Fielding (St. James), Paula Havixbeck (Charleswood), Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), Russ Wyatt (Transcona), Dan Vandal (St. Boniface) and Thomas Steen (Elmwood-East Kildonan).

Steen was undecided until Monday, when he announced he was “leaning toward supporting” the Canalta proposal.

“It makes sense for the kids in my area,” Steen said of the water park and hotel complex alongside The Forks. “I don’t hear any better option, other than what’s on the table.”

The councillors who have said they intend to vote against the plan are Ross Eadie (Mynarski), Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge), Brian Mayes (St. Vital), Grant Nordman (St. Charles), Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas), John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) and Harvey Smith (Daniel McIntyre).

Councillors are not bound by their stated intentions.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca