With a unanimous decision, Regina city council agreed to put $11 million into a new building at Evraz Place.
The International Trade Centre was announced last week, with federal and provincial ministers on hand to each match the $11 million. The rest of the $38.4 million is to be raised from “private sector stakeholders”.
On Monday night, city council discussed whether to approve the money for the building. Many councillors spoke very positively on the matter and how it will impact the city.
At the announcement last week, Mayor Michael Fougere said the plan won’t be “rubber stamped”, but he saw no reason why it wouldn’t go ahead. In discussions during the meeting, Fougere spoke in the “strongest terms of support” for the plan, saying that they’re always investing in the city and improving infrastructure.
“I can’t think of a more effective way to invest in our infrastructure when two orders of government will cover two-thirds of the cost of that.”
Both the Agribition and Farm Progress Show have been complaining for several years about the old and leaky buildings – one even making veiled threats to leave if the problems weren’t fixed.
Thirteen buildings will be demolished to make way for the new centre. The money from the city will come out of the General Fund Reserve over the next three years.
The construction is expected to begin after Agribition 2015, and be finished for Agribition 2017.
LSchick@rawlco.com
Follow on Twitter: @LMSchickler