tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574837432999048774.post3079174505165158692..comments2023-09-25T09:15:34.880-07:00Comments on Nanaimo-Info-blog: Mayor McKay Now Elected - Mute on LeadercastUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574837432999048774.post-88790371841421859152015-01-07T18:16:59.122-08:002015-01-07T18:16:59.122-08:00Port Theatre funding in doubt? Incoming mayor says...Port Theatre funding in doubt? Incoming mayor says commitment from city may be re-examined when new council takes office<br /><br />Spencer Anderson / Daily News <br />November 19, 2014 12:00 AM<br /><br />Nanaimo's incoming mayor has said that council's commitment to fund $4.6 million for the expansion of the Port Theatre could be in doubt.<br /><br />Fresh off his campaign victory, Coun. Bill McKay indicated during comments to reporters that the commitment may be reexamined once the new council takes office on Dec. 1 The mayor-elect, who was the sole council member to vote against funding the project back in September, said the Port Theatre Society may have to go it alone.<br /><br />"As far as the Port Theatre is concerned, my council made a decision on the Port Theatre that they didn't back up with any money," he said.<br /><br />"There is no money for the Port Theatre, we don't know where it's going to come from, other than continued taxation and increasing taxes," McKay added. "So we need to probably go out (to) the community and say you're going to have to go out there and raise (it), just like when the building was originally built, you may have to go out there and raise the city's portion of this contribution."<br /><br />The project would see the addition of a smaller, cabaret-style theatre and three multi-use rehearsal halls onto the existing theatre by 2017.<br /><br />Council also voted to co-sign for a line of credit up to $2 million for the project. The motion also designated the project as a 150th-anniversary legacy project for the city and a priority during applications for federal gas tax funds.<br /><br />However, as McKay pointed out, the funding has not been set aside in the city's four-year financial plan.<br /><br />Moreover, the promise of the money is contingent on the theatre society raising the remaining required funds — $8 million is the current estimate — through fundraising and corporate donations.<br /><br />During the September vote, McKay argued financial support for the project should be put to a referendum.<br /><br />Port Theatre general manager Bruce Halliday said the city's portion of the funding is critical for the project to proceed.<br /><br />"We have been given a council resolution to go ahead with (this project)," he said. "And we are moving forward assuming that is in place."<br /><br />Halliday said the theatre has re-hired its architect and design team for the project, and has put in an application for $2.5 million in funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage.<br /><br />He said their discussions with a naming sponsor for the project have also been proceeding. Combined with Canadian Heritage, that represents a potential block of funding worth between $5 million and $6 million to the project.<br /><br />Halliday said he has not spoken to McKay since Saturday's election, but added: "I would do so happily."<br /><br />The other three re-elected councillors — Diane Brennan, Jim Kipp and Bill Bestwick — all supported the project.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com