Anonymous group attacks city council over new rec centre land deal

“I feel sorry for the appraiser because who knows what they told the appraiser because the appraiser also goes on the information you need to know. And I bet you for one thing the appraiser doesn’t know that the power line that goes through that property is going to cost $3 million to move,” he said, adding a Prince Albert appraiser would have cared to look at those sorts of details.

The land purchase was approved during a June city council meeting in a narrow vote that split council five against four. The city has big plans for the newly purchased 18-acre parcel near Marquis Road and Highway 3. Phase One will see the construction of a $60 million recreation complex with two arenas and an aquatic centre.

‘Throw it in the trash’

After reading the pamphlet, Dionne now has some questions of his own, namely why if the group is so proud of their facts, why they won’t put their names forward publicly.

“On my fact sheet, my name is there, my phone number is there, my address is there, these people are hiding. Why?” he asked, noting all political candidates offer their contact details to election officials.

“I am asking the general public when they get this document to do what should be done and throw it in the trash,” he said.

Another “fact” mentioned in the pamphlet takes a shot at Dionne for saying there will be an eight per cent levy on new businesses for the “Entertainment District.” The pamphleteer/s suggest that would be a deterrent to the new site because business owners would prefer to locate elsewhere in the city where there is no levy.

“The hotel that Gord Broda is negotiating with and some of the restaurants have already acknowledged it and agreed to it,” Dionne said, explaining businesses will want to be near a site where there is going to be a lot of traffic.

Dionne also explained he has been asked how he will defend himself against the pamphlet. He agreed he cannot because he cannot defend himself against an unknown accuser.

“If they were to put their name to this document, it would still not get credibility because you put it out without your name on it in the first place and now that the incumbent is challenging you, to name yourself and debate him, you’re hiding,” he said.

Response from the other mayoral candidates

Darryl Hickie told paNOW he “unequivocally” had no involvement in the pamphlet, but acknowledged suggestions that he could be. He has campaigned against the land deal.

“I agree there is some information here that I brought up for sure and I am left to wonder if that wasn’t an impetus for this group of concerned taxpayers and residents to do some more digging,” he said.

Fellow mayoral candidate Josh Morrow called the pamphlet “disgusting” and said the proposed development represents an important piece of civic pride for the city and the families who live here.

“At this point we need to bring the community together not rip them apart. The people of Prince Albert aren’t stupid. I think they are going to understand very quickly who’s behind this,” he said. Morrow did not name names.

Morrow added anyone with with any type of credibility will stand up and open themselves up for questioning.

“It’s very easy to hide behind a pamphlet or hide behind an anonymous group, and have someone else punch and push your message through,” he said.

Dennis Nowoselsky is now also running for mayor but was among the city councillors who voted against the deal when it was before city council, and said the pamphlet raises some of the key concerns he had.

“Its an excessive amount of money to be paid for this property and in a time of not just COVID, in a time when the city is in bad financial shape,” he said, adding the city is already facing a major upgrade to the waste water treatment plant.

paNOW attempted to contact the group through email for an interview, and received a statement in response.

“This is not about us. This is about the elected officials (now candidates) and other candidates running for city council who blindly support this land acquisition,” the statement said.

The statement goes on to claim they have the research that Mayor Dionne and City Manager Jim Toye failed to do.

“We are asking the questions that have yet to be answered,” it said. “We are frustrated with the lack of transparency, due diligence and public consultation.”

Further attempts by paNOW to ask for the identification of the pamphlet’s authors were met with a second statement, re-iterating their identity is not important.

“The only credibility that matters are the five who voted in favour of this land transaction without allowing any public consultation and accepted the fact that due diligence was exercised when the facts tell a difference story altogether,” the statement explained. “We only want what’s best for our City.”

–

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Anonymous group attacks city council over new rec centre land deal

What's Trending