By Brian Hickey
The long-awaited Plant Pool project was dealt a blow last week when provincial Energy Minister Jim Wilson called plans by municipalities to re-structure their utilities a “cash grab” and vowed to stop it.
The City of Ottawa’s budget, which depends on the re-financing of Ottawa Hydro, had allocated the remaining $4.6 million necessary to upgrade the 76-year-old Plant Pool facility.
The project only required council’s approval of the draft budget on Dec. 13.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson says that the future of the project now rests in the hands of the province and whether the City of Ottawa can go ahead with its hydro re-structuring plans.
A final decision from the province was expected this week.
“If the province allows us, then the projects will go ahead as planned,” says Watson.
“If they don’t allow us or put a freeze on any restructuring activities then we will have to bring in a new budget which will eliminate new capital projects like the Plant Pool.”
The City of Ottawa had planned to transfer about $16 million from Ottawa Hydro to finance its budget.
Watson planned to have a special council meeting this week to discuss the new budget developments.
He says the province’s decision regarding re-structuring will ultimately determine what kind of budget Ottawa City Council will pass.
Somerset city Coun. Elisabeth Arnold says the municipalities are struggling with their budgets because funds will be frozen as of Jan.1.
After this date, a provincially appointed transition board must approve all expenditures.
“We’ve been following a very up-front public planning process that has not been changed by us,” says Arnold. “Now, we’ve had a wrench thrown into our plans by the province, which is all very unfair to the community.”
Community groups have been lobbying the city for over two years to renovate the Plant Pool facility, located at the corner of Preston and Somerset streets.
The 80-member Plant Pool Recreation Association has even raised more than $45,000 in an effort to restore the pool.
The $6.6-million project will include building a new recreation centre at the Plant Pool site and re-developing the adjoining Plouffe Park.
The new facility will also have a three-lane pool, an exercise room and public meeting rooms.
“This is really a blow to our community, but there is still a chance (the facility will be built),” says Arnold. “If we cannot proceed, the blame should be laid at the feet of the province.”