Expo 2015 Update Today

[SD2]

Re: expo

But the potential is also there right now. You allready have plans developed and I believe even some work underway for the Bayfront area and the TWRC has done a lot of work studying and developing plans for the area. Once the first areas begin to rise and the area starts to take shape it becomes far easier to keep pushing new development further and further into the Portlands area.

The potential has always been there - getting things done has been the problem. This just offers the possibility to speed things along and provide some useful infrastructure.

 

[billonlogan]

Re: expo

Expo bid's fate to be decided by tomorrow
Noon deadline: 'We're moving ahead until we're told to the contrary'

James Cowan, National Post
Published: Wednesday, November 01, 2006

The future of Toronto's bid for the 2015 World Expo will be decided by tomorrow at noon.

Phone calls continued yesterday between senior bureaucrats as they attempted to salvage the city's troubled pitch.

Talks between federal, provincial and city officials have been ongoing for a week and the city is now running out of time to formalize its bid for the World's Fair.

Cities have until 6 p.m. Central European Time on Nov. 2 to submit bid letters to the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the fair's governing body.

Faced with a six hour time difference, that means Toronto officials have until noon tomorrow to find a solution to their bid's financial woes.

Michel Frappier, COO of Toronto 2015 World Expo Corporation, said he expects conversations between the government officials will continue until late today or even tomorrow morning. "They're still talking, which is encouraging," Mr. Frappier said.

Toronto needs Queen's Park or Ottawa to guarantee payment of the projected $700-million debt attached to the World's Fair proposal. The BIE requires the countries that bid on the event to commit to picking up any lingering deficits.

But the federal government is legally barred from promising to cover a debt and Premier Dalton McGuinty has said his government could not afford to serve as a financial backstop.

No information was available yesterday on the progress of discussions or what issues still need to be resolved. However, a spokesman for David Miller said yesterday the Mayor's Office had been speaking with the Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's staff.

Despite the uncertainty about the bid, Mr. Frappier said his staff is continuing to plan.

He announced this week Via Rail had agreed to sponsor the bid. "We're moving ahead until we're told to the contrary," Mr. Frappier said.

 

[toforumer]

Re: expo

Should we call in the priest to give the last prayers? Because this is just about dead.

 

[aofe11]

Re: expo

Not quite dead yet....


Feds back Expo Bid

Tories commit $600M, but deficit coverage still a major stumbling block

By ROB GRANATSTEIN, Toronto Sun




Canada’s Heritage Minister Bev Oda said today the federal government has a firm commitment of up to $600 million and a signed letter from the Prime Minister backing Toronto’s Expo 2015 bid.

“It’s now over to the province and the city and the Expo people,†Oda said in a telephone interview with the Toronto Sun this morning.

The province has said it will not cover an Expo deficit.

The bid has to be in by Friday in Paris.

Expo 2015 Chief Operating Officer Michel Frappier would not comment on whether the $600 million is everything the bid team asked for, as Oda contended.

“We need to see the province and what their response will be,†Frappier said. “That will happen by 5 p.m.â€

Oda said the Expo team came to Ottawa asking for $900 million to fund the World’s Fair. In discussions, the two sides agreed to remove $300 million of that money that was to pay for affordable housing at Expo.

The money will cover all of the international obligations, immigration, security, and would also cover a Canadian pavilion and programming Canadians would be proud of, Oda said.

“This is $600 million committed to Expo,†Oda said, adding it’s won’t be pulled from any other projects.

“The $600 million is legitimate support when compared to the Vancouver Olympics, where the province of British Columbia is covering the deficit,â€Oda said.

She said the commitment is also in line with the contributions made for Expo 67 in Montreal and Expo 86 in Vancouver.


www.torontosun.com/News/2...97554.html

 

[MetroMan1000]

Re: expo

I never thought I'd be walking past Harper to punch Dalton McGuinty in the nose. I always thought I'd be cursing Harper for killing our final chance to host a large international event in Toronto. But McGuinty? The mother****er is using this to prove his point that Ontario is not getting enough Federal money... Ok, we get it already Dalton Mc****er.

 

[blixa442]

Re: expo

It took you this long to figure it out? John Tory for premier pronto.

 

[papamanjr]

Re: expo

wow, very smart play by the tories. they know the deal is dead. so they throw out a few life jackets just as the ship is literally about to sink; afterwards, they turn around and blame the dead people for not taking them.

if they would have offered this money 3 weeks ago, it would have been a different story.

 

[drum118]

Re: expo

This is one project that should loose and must loose considering Toronto does not have the money not only to cover the lost, but it cannot fix things within the city now.

How can Toronto go after Expo 2015 when it does not have a transit system to move these riders going to it when it cannot move it's current riders today? Unless Toronto wants to invest $500 million per year on to top what TTC get now for capital cost, you would only doing catchup to meet TTC needs now.

It not going to quick start the waterfront redevelopment as claim.

Expo does not mean much these days as things are changing faster each years now compare to the past.

$700 million buy a lot of things Toronto needs today.

 

[samplain]

Re: expo

Unfortunately the Expo doesnt fall under the top 3 priorities of ONntarians as polled by the Dalton Liberals.

But the gambling and liquor business is just fine it seems.

 

[bizorky]

Re: expo

I never thought I'd be walking past Harper to punch Dalton McGuinty in the nose.

NEVER turn down the opportunity to go for both shnozes.

 

[SD2]

Re: expo

$700 million buy a lot of things Toronto needs today.

True, but it's not like we'd get the money otherwise. With an Expo coming it offers the opportunity to improve transit, etc.

It also puts the onus on the different levels of government to deliver...if the event fails it will make the country and province look bad too.

 

[MetroMan1000]

Re: expo

The money the federal government is offering includes money to improve infrastructure (including transit).
They've also said there is more money that can be offered pending discussions. This is "non-expo" related money but would help facilitate the influx of tourists.
This sounds awfully like the federal govt' picking up the tab on building a downtown transit solution.

As I'm reading some of your comments (drum yours is one of them), I become frustrated. Some of you are just blurting out what you think of the bid without even bothering to educate yourself on the bid and its benefits.

We have other things to fund, bla bla bla, we could use this money for transit, bla bla bla, this will not kick start the waterfront, bla bla bla.... :\

I don't know whether to respond to that or to just leave you curious enough that you'll go read the bid (and about other bid histories) which will give you answers to your concerns.

The bottom line is the bid will give the city, the feds and the province a deadline to work against to improve the city's transit, finish the waterfront plans, remove the Gardiner and leave a legacy of infrastructure and facilities to build communities.

When (if) the bid is awarded to us, no level of govt' can afford to fail. The govt's safe will have finally opened for Toronto and will stay open until 2015. This is our final chance (no more bids if this one fails).

We'd be crazy to not take this chance, this is not even a bid, the BIE is basically offering it to us on a silver platter. An Expo hasn't been in North America in a very long time and we're the only North American bid.. hint hint...

 

[tudararms]

Re: expo

Agree. Also, I don't know much about the expo legacy in Montreal - aside from what was left within the collective Canadian conscience, however, which was huge for a generation of Canadians - but Canada Place in Vancouver seems to have emerged as quite the tourist hub. It's an important landmark on the Vancouver waterfront, and seems to be constantly surrounded by at least 3 or 4 cruise ships.

An expo in Toronto, which is within an easy day's drive from many major urban centres, will no doubt be a draw, especially if marketed effectively. If it's well planned it may be the impetus required to improve infrastructure in the city and leave an important legacy for a generation to come.

 

[scarberiankhatru]

"This sounds awfully like the federal govt' picking up the tab on building a downtown transit solution."

If there was no Expo bid, they wouldn't be giving us anything for downtown transit. That's a good enough reason for me to support an Expo bid. $600M or so probably won't buy much more than streetcar ROWs along the waterfront and through the portlands, but they're needed. Who knows exactly how much more will be spent by all 3 levels of government on transit? Maybe it'll be enough for a DRL...

The waterfront will be developed on its own steam, but it'll take 20+ years, which is fine if they do it right (and the West Donlands is getting it right).

There's bound to be a few pieces of ridiculous crap lying around the portlands after Expo is over, but thanks ok as long as they're silly enough to become tourist attractions.

 

[toforumer]

Re: expo

Well it's past 12pm. I read on another board that Miller is calling for a press conference at 1:15pm at the Mayor's Office. I wonder if he'll deliver good or bad news.

Does anyone know yet if we put forth an offical bid?