WINNIPEG — City councillors have voted to purchase a chunk of land from Manitoba Hydro that is needed for the expansion of rapid transit system.
The acquisition of the land became the subject of controversy after its price tag changed by tens of millions of dollars.
Initially, the city thought it would pay $4.6 million for the 16-acre parcel but Hydro obtained another appraisal and asked for $20 million.
The approval of the deal means the city can begin construction as planned and avoid any potential extra costs associated with a delay.
The council meeting was interrupted before the vote took place so city councillors could be provided with more information on the rapid transit project.
However, to receive that information they would have had to sign a non-disclosure agreement, preventing them from publicly discussing anything they heard in the meeting.
Eight of 16 city councilors refused to sign the non-disclosure agreement.
The others were briefed on the new information in a closed door meeting with city administration.
Some councillors who refused to sign the non-disclosure agreement have speculated the details involved savings that have been found that put the project under budget.
Two motions were also put forward by councillors during the meeting that related to the Hydro land vote.
One would have stopped the rapid transit project entirely. The other would have stalled it while the city asked the province to come up with a framework for land deals between crown corporations like Hydro and the city.
Both were voted down.
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