NDP promises $2.5M for Keystone Centre

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This article was published 13/02/2016 (3847 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The incumbent New Democratic Party made Brandon the site of its first campaign announcement on Friday.

The party pledged to pump $2.5 million into the Keystone Centre over the next five years.

“This investment will ensure that the Keystone Centre continues to be a vibrant hub for the community in attracting world-class events and for the enjoyment of families and visitors alike,” Brandon East NDP candidate Drew Caldwell said during an announcement held at the facility.

Caldwell was joined by Brandon West NDP candidate Linda Ross.

“We know that the Keystone Centre is really important in creating jobs and economic opportunities in Brandon and also in Westman,” Ross said. “And we know that we need to keep investing in the Keystone Centre and in our community at large.”

However, Brandon West Progressive Conservative candidate Reg Helwer said he wants to see the commitment in a provincial budget before he’ll believe it.

The NDP has made a host of promises leading up to the campaign, he said.

“Now they’re adding on to those. None of these are budgeted,” Helwer said. “They’re just wishes, trying to bribe people with their own money.”

Brandon East Liberal candidate Vanessa Hamilton said the NDP has stepped up with cash late in the game.

“It’s about time because the Keystone Centre has been asking for longterm funding for a number of years,” Hamilton said. “Now that they’re down in the polls, I think they’re doing anything possible to just try to buy a vote.”

The NDP announcement effectively matches city support for the Keystone Centre.

Council has already committed $500,000 for the Keystone Centre for 2016-17 budget year, and expressed support for the Keystone’s five-year capital plan.

Technically, though, the city can only provide funding on a budget-by-budget basis.

Keystone Centre general manager Neil Thomson was happy with the NDP promise, especially one that provides funding for five years.

Such funding from the province would buoy the city’s support for the centre’s five-year plan.

“Why wouldn’t the city match that for fifty-cent dollars? It just would make sense for that to happen,” Thomson said.

Much of the money would be used for equipment and repairs at the aging facility, Thomson said.

He said he hopes the NDP promise will prompt similar long-term vows from the Tories and Liberals.

Asked whether the PCs would make a similar funding commitment, Helwer pointed to his party’s promise to do an audit before committing funds to any specific project. But he didn’t rule out funding for the centre either.

“We know that it’s an important driver for western Manitoba. It’s important for the province, as a partner, to be part of it.”

Hamilton said that she’ll bring the need for Keystone funding to the attention of Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari.

Meanwhile, Caldwell says provincial funds would be released each year when the city commits its part. The first instalment will arrive this year, once the 2016-17 provincial budget is in place.

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