Edit: Important update- After being posted for 24 hours, two people contacted me to say that Tim Hortons has withdrawn from being the planned concession at the TPAL. I’m sure the town will update us all if this is true.

The truth about the Twin Pad Arena and Library (TPAL) financing.

I bumped this discussion forward because a David Lewis (a huge supporter online of our current Council) decided to join our group today, just so he could start yelling “liar”. Lol…. So David, your idol Brian Smith and his Council can thank you for this post.

Yes, it’s open, it’s working just fine, it’s an incredible facility.

Despite using the TPAL as a base of celebration upon its opening, the Mayor and his online support team have attempted to paint a picture of financial burden that taints the reputations of those who made the decision to build it in the first place. So, let’s look at this;

Attached is the report that Council considered when making the decision. Please take the time to read it. It demonstrates the responsible, thorough manner in which the previous Council addressed important issues. Yes, the report indicates a reasonable tax increase as a result of this build, but NOT the MASSIVE increase pushed through by the current council immediately upon taking office. (The truth about THAT later.)

Most of the new Council have probably been a little uncomfortable celebrating the TPAL. During the election campaign there was a massive effort to say the TPAL should not have been built. There were two major complaints by the naysayers, let’s address them both.

First… there were complaints that it was done on the backs of tax-payers without funding from other levels of government. Well, there was funding applied for, but as COVID measures were just winding down, neither the provincial nor the federal government were giving out much money.

The attached report showed building this much needed facility was still going to be affordable. The old arena was basically condemned, the library had outlived its usefulness and outgrown its location. All of these factors were carefully considered and the vote to move forward was approved. Before we move on from this topic, consider one important observation. Despite the current Council harbouring this ongoing complaint about not getting funding, they decided to undertake a massive 21 Million Dollar Road Improvement project and that decision was made without even APPLYING for outside funding. This is a departure from past practices of delaying such projects until grants were announced. But, this was also a section of road where a current Council member lives. He had made it an election promise, so THAT project quietly got its approval. Of course, there was no mention of this project when blaming the TPAL for being solely responsible for our massive tax increases.

Let’s address the second issue and that is the actual cost of the TPAL. (Aprox.numbers) During campaigning and even after winning the election, Most members of the current Council led by Ego, Smith and Belanger, continued to claim that the TPAL was going to balloon out of control. Numbers of 85 and 90 Million were thrown around as though they were fact. They were not. The previous Council actually cared about taxation and ensured they negotiated a FIXED contract that ensured the TPAL would stay within its original 60 Million Dollar Budget. There were protests, but the protests were all about misdirection. (Councilor Ego led many of these protests- see photo) The building was built UNDER the original budget! That bears repeating…. THE BUILDING WAS BUILT UNDER THE ORIGINAL BUDGET!

So despite the two above lies, the needed facility was built!

The lies fueled an election, so they worked, but what should upset the taxpayers of Wasaga Beach is the fact that our Council embraces these two beliefs because they worked. I call them lies of convenience.

I have mentioned this before and it also bears repeating. The current Council was all present at a public meeting where the CAO repeated the lie about the original Smith Council (2014-18) being on a list for 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 funding for Brian’s fake hub on Main Street. The current TPAL was criticized for abandoning those funds. IT WAS A LIE! We were NEVER on any such list. But it was a lie that helped win an election, so there was a continued attempt to carry forward that lie. After all, the current Council wouldn’t want to truly praise those who got it done. So… all members of Council sat there and allowed their CAO to lie. The Mayor even spoke at the same event and he neglected to correct this little lie of convenience. It is disgusting behaviour and something I hope EVERYONE remembers during the next election. I have written directly to the Mayor asking for clarification about the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 lie. He refused to respond!

Finally, let’s take a peek at the incredible timing the previous Council was able to jump on. During COVID, there were many supply chain issues. That was compounded in major construction projects because of labour shortages. Ontario Municipalities were not engaging in big builds (there were some, but not many at this magnitude) Our Council saw an opportunity and jumped on it. I was present when a high ranking member of the team that got this done praised my wife for the Councils foresight and professionalism. He spoke of the brilliance of having both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor on the Building Committee. He recognized that by having them present when problems occurred, the importance of resolving those issues did not get lost in the chain of communication. If required, Council could be assembled, issues resolved and the project could move forward without delay. Not only was it built under budget but it was also built… ON TIME!

Other communities were not so fortunate. He told us of other communities who delayed their decisions and by the time they decided to move forward, their projects were unaffordable. He said that if Wasaga Beach had delayed this project and was building it today, it would cost at least $30,000,000.00 more.

Think about that for a moment. Sure, the Council of the day could have delayed the project, waited for other levels of government to step in and maybe get some grants. But… that would be offset by the increased cost of building it. Possibly 30 million or more!

I am glad that the Council members that voted to move this forward had the foresight to do so. It would be fitting to have a plaque in their honour at the main entrances at the TPAL. Mayor Bifolchi, Deputy Mayor Bray, Councilors Watson, Wells, Foster and Kinney… you all deserve ALL of the praise flowing for this facility.

To emphasize why I feel it is important to start these discussions, you would have had to be at the ribbon cutting.

During his speech, Mayor Smith actually took credit for starting the process that led to the build. THATS RIGHT…. He spoke of tours they embarked on during his term to explore “hubs” in other communities. He mentioned the two members of the previous Council in the room but is was a very subtle recognition of their contribution.

It was actually OTHER true dignitaries from the County, the Province and the Federal Government that laid the praise where it was due. I think it was our MP Terry Dowdall who pointed out that this was a rare and unique opportunity being able to cut the ribbon on a facility of this size and quality. All dignataries praised our community for recognizing the importance of the TPAL as a gathering place, a place to stimulate commerce, a place to foster friendships and a place to embrace growth!

I think it’s kind of cool that most of those eating crow are having to do so quietly and with a side order of “convenient lies” to offset the bitter taste.

Seeing this weeks cheque register from December, 2023 and the $679,000.00 refund cheque issued to Zancor for cancellation of the naming rights really got me thinking about the absurd actions of this council. They say, that action was precipitated by public outcry. I call BALONEY on that. The ONLY outcry was from some people on Facebook when the naming was first announced. There was never a public survey, no forum to address it. It was simply a vindictive, snap decision. This name change was purely a political move to attempt removing any reminders of the Council that got this project done.

It is this name change and what I know about planning and logistics for these kinds of projects that prompted another question I asked of Mayor Smith.

My question was to disclose ALL change orders requested or approved for the TPAL build after Brian became Mayor. I was told to file a Freedom of Information Request. When time permits I will. I wonder how many signs had to be scrapped, how many changes had to be made due the Brian Smith cancelling the largest private donation our Town has ever received?

So…. Read the report. We could afford it! Consider the lies that the TPAL was responsible for the municipal portion of our taxes going up by over 17% since Brian took office. It’s not true! Consider the repeated claim of 1/3 funding offers…. NOT TRUE!

Then head over, walk the track, read a book, watch a game… and celebrate the arrival of this wonderful community asset!

Oh…. There will be a Tim Hortons there eventually. I understand there are unexpected costs in building such a franchise in our TPAL. I hope the costs of these modifications are not borne by the taxpayers. Not one nickel, not when the franchisee is a contributor to our Mayors Election Campaign!!!