EDMONTON – Following Wednesday’s decision by Edmonton city council to resume negotiations with the Katz Group on the downtown arena, many citizens are weighing in on the call.
In particular, some attention is being brought to a suggestion made by Councillor Linda Sloan. After the Katz Group appeared before council and presented their suggestion to restart arena talks, Sloan called for a delay in the process pending written information being presented to council.
“I don’t think there’s much point in continuing the dialogue because, unless the terms of what you’re proposing are in writing, I really don’t think council can consider it,” she told the Katz Group Wednesday.
“Just the attempt to stop the discussion to me, as part of the process, just didn’t make any sense,” said Dan Tencer, host of “Inside Sports” on 630 CHED.
Tencer addressed the arena decision on his radio show Wednesday night, and fielded calls from listeners specifically relating to Councillor Sloan.
“It was an interesting motion mostly because she needed to be in council chambers to make it, and for a large bulk of the discussion yesterday, amazingly, for the most complex and highest investment file the city has right now, she wasn’t in council chambers for most of yesterday,” said Tencer.
She “came back in, and made a motion to stop all relevant discussion about the biggest issue in front of council, which was shocking,” he adds.
Tencer’s audience – a large majority of which are hockey fans – reacted to Sloan’s absence and motion to delay arena negotiations. Callers told him “it was very disappointing conduct on behalf of a councillor… whether she agrees or disagrees with what’s happening here, she’s been elected to contribute to relevant discussion on a complex issue.”
Sloan’s request didn’t fly in council, and the motion to resume arena talks was passed 11 to 2 late Wednesday afternoon.
So, what do the residents Sloan has been elected to represent think about the councillor’s move?
“If they all said ‘yeah’ then bang, there would be no more time for debate, and I really think this is a very important issue,” said one Ward 1 resident, adding slowing down the process may not be such a bad idea.
“Kerry Diotte, I think he was also trying to slow it down. They were the two councillors that didn’t vote for it. I think that’s ok.”
Another Ward 1 resident wasn’t as fond of Sloan’s suggestion.
“I like Linda Sloan very much,” she says. “She’s a very nice person, but this particular item I’m not in agreement with, with her.”
A third Ward 1 resident Global News spoke to sides with Mayor Mandel and the majority of council on Wednesday’s final decision to keep discussion moving forward.
“I think it’s good for the two to keep talking. If they don’t make a deal, they don’t make a deal. I agree with the mayor’s stance; if we can make a deal, it’s good for the city, it’s good for downtown.”
“I’m really happy with our council… and I like the way they’ve handled it so far. I like the way that they’re saying to the Katz Group, ‘let’s talk about it, but it’s got to be good for both sides, it’s got to be a win-win’,” he adds.
Councillor Sloan has been one of the most critical of the arena deal, and Wednesday’s request for a recess was no exception. However, many say stalling the dialogue isn’t the way to voice opposition.
“You look at councillors like Don Iveson, Tony Caterina, who have had some very tough questions about this all along, at times have voted no, and at times have been critical. The discussion has always been going forward with them,” says Tencer.
“Discussion is key to us getting as much good information as we can get to form an opinion,” explains Councillor Don Iveson.
You can watch the Edmonton Oilers’ flyover simulation of the arena district below, courtesy of the Katz Group:
With files from Vinesh Pratap
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