COVERAGE OF ARENA LOAN FORGIVENESS ‘DISAPPOINTING’

Re: ‘CBRM forgives arena $172K loan,’ Cape Breton Post, April 29

The fact that Cape Breton Post reporter Ian Nathanson choose to concentrate primarily on the four councillors who voted to reject forgiveness of a $172,000 loan from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality to the Emera Center in North Sydney as opposed to the mayor and the other eight councillors who supported it is very disappointing.

The Emera Center did not receive a $1.5 million loan as reported from CBRM in 2011 to help leverage funds with other levels of government to maintain operations of the arena.

In 2009, CBRM voted to guarantee $1.5 million in pledges collected from both individuals and businesses all across CBRM, as part of a $12-million funding agreement to allow the project to move forward.

By 2012, the society had paid $1.27 million to CBRM and the balance was converted to a loan of $230,000. From 2012 to 2017, the society repaid CBRM $57,000, leaving a balance of $172,000.

The society, with a dedicated group of volunteers and staff, has operated the facility for 10 years without any financial support from CBRM. We are considered a part of CBRM'S master recreation plan but receive no funding. We have had a number of successful fundraisers due to the support of the Cape Breton community and 100 per cent of the money raised has gone back into the Emira Center.

The loan forgiveness allows the Emera Center, as is the case with other recreation facilities, to apply for government grants that will help support the future of the building. The Northside community has fully supported all the investments (old and new) in all CBRM recreation facilities, and I thank the council for supporting us.

Leo Steele

North Sydney (Northside Civic Center Society member)