Moose Jaw Civic Centre

In January of 2002, a motion was introduced to City Council by then Councillor McBain, and Council unanimously approved renovations to the Civic Centre valued at $5,635,000.  Councillor Chow, McBain and then Mayor Schwinghamer voted in favour of these extensive renovations and turned down the option of building the Multiplex (then called the Communiplex).  

Councillor Chow later attempted to explain this decision.  While running for Council in Fall 2006 an article about him appeared in the Moose Jaw Times Herald on Sept. 27, 2006 :

Chow's term on council (2000-2003) saw the city choose not to build a multiplex in 2000.
"I understood the rationale.  There were two competing visions - the communiplex and the cultural centre.  Council couldn't do both." - Darin Chow

Although that rationale meant Moose Jaw could only tackle one major project at a time,  Mr. Chow now has Moose Jaw building a hockey arena, curling rink, soccer field house, hospital, 2 subdivisions and several required upgrades - all at the same time.  (See the Moose Jaw Debt page.)

In the motion to renovate the Civic Centre back in 2002, nearly $3 million dollars was spent on these renovations before it was halted.

Renovations undertaken included:

• new lights
• new seats
• new HVAC
• new sound system
• new ice plant
• new doors and interior finish
• upgraded change rooms and washrooms

Those same 3 people are on Council this term and now the plan is to demolish the recently renovated Civic Centre and build a new downtown hockey arena and curling rink. Do you believe they are looking out for the best interests of the citizens of this city?

During those years from 2001-2003 when Chow, McBain and Schwinghamer were on Council, hockey was priority #1.  Let's look at their record.

In 2001-2003, Moose Jaw saw enormous amounts spent on Civic Centre renovations in an effort to prevent the City from having to build a new multiplex/communiplex.

Compare spending on the Civic Centre with spending on sidewalks in those same years. In 2002, the same year that saw $1.27 million spent on Civic Centre renovations, sidewalks received a mere $56,625, one of the lowest levels in 10 years.

Other core infrastructure suffered too. Spending on roads during those years also hit a 10 year low.

When Chow, McBain and Schwinghamer were on Council in 2001-2003, spending on recreation was very clearly the top priority. Through their decisions, core infrastructure was neglected.

They made their priorities very clear from 2001-2003, and they aren't finished yet. You'll notice when Chow, Schwinghamer and McBain were on Council together again in 2007, the level of spending on roads fell from $1.2 million the previous year to only $850,000. That's slightly more than a third of what City Administration is recommending ($2.1 million per year) to maintain our roads. Their priorities in 2006-2009 make hockey #1 again, but this time to the tune of $61+ million from the taxpayer.

Do you believe they are looking out for the best interests of the citizens of this city?

2002 motion introduced by Councillor McBain to approve $5.6 million in Civic Centre renovations.
March 7, 2006 Letter to MLA Glen Hagel from Mayor Schwinghamer as a formal request to obtain funding for the multiplex. Notice that he says the City will commit up to $15 million. CC to Premier Calvert.