VIEWPOINT: Rink announcement better late than never

By Max Nease, News Editor

Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced on Nov. 23 that the Parliament Hill skating rink would be staying open until the end of February, two months longer than initially scheduled. The government’s ban on cellphone use has also since been lifted, allowing for pictures to be taken while on the ice.

The decision to extend the date and alter restrictions has been well received, but the whole episode begs a question: Why was this not the original plan?

Heavy criticism immediately surrounded the rink — for good reason — when the government announced that it would be open for a mere 24 days in December. The price tag for the temporary facility was pegged at $5.6-million, a massive total considering the short amount of time Canadians were being given to enjoy the ice.

The chance glide around in the shadow of the Peace Tower is being promoted as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to skate on Parliament Hill.” And seeing as the government rejected the NHL’s offer to use this rink as the venue for their NHL100 Classic this year — now being held at TD Place on Dec. 16 — it is safe to say the chances of seeing another rink on Parliament Hill are slim.

I do praise the federal government for making this quintessentially Canadian idea come to fruition, but I do not understand the initial hesitation to let the celebration continue into 2018.

Canada 150 has been a seemingly successful operation, with the Parliament Hill rink garnering huge interest among Canadians despite being so late in the festivities. So why not let the good times roll?

With Winterlude 2018 on the horizon, Ottawa will be seeing another big influx of tourists. The festival, running from Feb. 2 to Feb. 19, already celebrates a publicly accessible ice surface with the Rideau Canal. So naturally, including the Parliament Hill rink investment in the fun should have been a given.

It is hard to believe that the government did not see backlash coming.