As Published in the Portage la Prairie Daily Graphic Friday June 13th 2008

With the current debate raging over funding for the Portage Multiplex, there are many concerns being raised that have not been properly addressed by our current RM of Portage la Prairie council.

Most importantly, where has the RM received their mandate to spend 8 million dollars of rural taxpayers money on a luxury facility that is not even located in their jurisdiction? While the last City election revolved around the Multiplex and city councilors were elected to proceed with the process, when was it ever mentioned that the RM taxpayers including commercial businesses and farmers would each be on the hook for thousands of dollars per year to fund this.?

The City and RM are quick to partner together on infrastructure projects where it is to the benefit of all parties and that is a great thing. But no RM resident could imagine that they would be expected to fund this luxury facility of 42 million dollars (or higher) that will simple replace existing facilities in the City of Portage and Southport. With no additional facilities of any major size being added, how is this really expected to be a boon for the regions economy?

It would seem that an expenditure as large as this should have had some taxpayer input, first off on whether the RM should be a part of it, secondly to what final dollar value, and finally how it should be divided among taxpayers.

When Oakville wanted to install artificial ice several years ago in an arena located in the RM and used primarily by RM residents, there were zero dollars available for this capital project from the RM. 100% of funds were raised by volunteers from local residents, businesses, and farmers. For that, everyone that uses the facility is thankful. To expect these same taxpayers to be on the hook for this mega project is simply unfathomable when they were told there was no money for these same facilities in the RM.

When these people wanted to get a project done, they stepped up with their checkbooks and skills and made it happen. For everyone that has said that the Portage Multiplex needs to be built and especially those in favor of going ahead at any cost, I challenge them to get their checkbooks out and make it happen. Don’t expect 100% of the project to be paid for with tax dollars and corporations donating other peoples money.

When a precedent is set by the RM on what is funded and what is not, there needs to be explanations made when these decisions are changed.

With the current disaster in the Rural Municipality regarding the condition of the gravel roads, most residents would like to see the 1.5 million allocated from the RM general reserve (rainy day) fund be put toward things that would make conditions in the RM better today rather than to the Multiplex.

I am sure city residents would understand the rural residents concerns if it took them 10 minutes to travel 5 kilometers down a gravel road in a full size 4WD pickup through mud and water. If they had to schedule their work shifts around the weather forecast. If they had to make alternate arrangements with the school bus because it isn’t safe for the bus to travel down many gravel roads. Maybe it takes having their business impacted because delivery vehicles refuse to come to their premises because of the road conditions before the realities of these long term funding decisions hit home.

With approximately a million tax dollars from each ward in the RM being allocated to the multiplex, rural residents don’t have to look very far to prioritise where they would want that same million dollars of taxes spent. Is it time for the RM to use some of their rainy day fund to repair the current conditions in the RM and make up for past poor decisions on the choice of gravel suppliers? The roads are in worse condition today that they were in the monsoon season of 2005.

With the borrowing abilities of the City and RM being maxed out by this project, what happens if a disaster strikes? How much other development or renewal projects will be put off for a decade? How many streets and sidewalks will not be repaired? If a large company wants to locate in the Portage area, will there be money to provide them with services they need? Is the sewage treatment plant up to specs for the future phosphate requirements of the Lake Winnipeg watershed? If anything else arises, what is the fallback plan?

All taxpayers are asking for is answers to many questions that should of been answered before their elected officials committed to a project that still has no business plan and no ideas as to what the annual operating costs or deficits will be.

With the current debate of this multiplex being limited to coffee shops and letters to the editor , a new website has been launched to foster discussion and allow all interested parties to have their say. Whether you are in favor or against, have location concerns, or simply want your voice heard, please goto www.portagemultiplex.com and make your opinions known !

Dwayne Leslie is a freelance writer and farmer in the Poplar Point Manitoba area