By Joe Sambol
After eight years of studies, discussion and leg-dragging, a motion that may be the key to expanding the Ottawa Congress Centre will be put before council on March 26.
The motion calls for a facilitator to be appointed in an attempt to get all of the different levels of government to address the issue once and for all.
“At this point, we seem to have a lot of people talking about expanding the Congress Centre, but not necessarily talking to each other,” says Innes Ward Coun. Rainer Bloess, who put the notice of motion forward.
“There has been study after study done and you get to the point where you say enough is enough.”
Bloess has consulted with many councillors about the motion and expects it to pass at the next city council meeting.
The motion will also aim to solidify the amounts each level of government will contribute to the 150, 000 square foot expansion. It calls for a facilitator to be appointed within 30 days of its approval from council.
If the motion fails to pass, Bloess says he “will be interested to see how people justify not supporting it.”
However, the motion has not been well received by Congress Centre staff.
Congress Centre president David Hamilton disagrees with the city’s approach.
“I was a little disappointed,” he says. “I’m not too sure why we need another facilitator.”
Congress Centre chair Jacquelin Holzman agrees. “The idea of hiring yet another facilitator is no longer needed because everyone knows what needs to be done and it’s very clear where the money is going to come from,” she says.
Funding for the $100-million expansion is expected to be divided between the three levels of government and private sector contributors including the Rideau Centre. Each contributor would give about $25 million.
The proposed expansion would not only keep the Congress Centre competitive with other convention centres in the country, but should help create an estimated 4,000 new jobs as well. Surrounding businesses such as hotels and restaurants would also benefit from expansion.
Holzman says new jobs would range from everything from cleaning services to more executive office positions.
Centretown Citizens’ Community Association director Robert Smythe says the expansion would not have a great impact on Centretown businesses. However, it would still “obviously be good for Centretown” because business may be gained and residents could take advantage of the better facilities.
Holzman says the expansion would benefit all of the Ottawa region, because of the economic impact and new jobs it would create.
“It’s high time we recognize that these jobs are very badly needed,” she says.