After sitting on the backburner of public discourse for much of this term for Estevan city council and a good portion of the last term, discussion is ramping up on whether to build a third indoor ice surface in Estevan.
There was a lot of talk earlier this year during discussions about renovating the Power Dodge Arena. And the chatter will grow now that there is going to be a non-binding plebiscite as part of the civic election, scheduled for Nov. 13.
The idea of the plebiscite, brought forward by Coun. Tony Sernick, makes sense. Frankly, a public vote probably should have happened four years ago during the previous civic election, even if this four-year wait gave everyone a chance to evaluate life with two arenas after the permanent closure of the Civic Auditorium in 2017.
The city has turned to plebiscites before during elections. Many of you will remember in 2014, when there was talk of the Little Pine First Nations building a casino in Estevan. The city held a public vote during a spring by-election, the public rejected it (resoundingly so, too) and the concept was abandoned.
Less than two years earlier, in the 2012 civic election, there was a vote on whether to lower the speed limit to 40 kilometres per hour in residential areas. It was passed, but with narrow approval, and the strongest support for reduced speeds was from residents of seniors' homes and those who needed a mobile poll; a lot of those people don't drive. And so city council of the day opted for the status quo.
A plebiscite is a simple way to gauge public support on an issue. It's not a referendum, which is binding. And by having it on election day, the costs are minimal. It's not like the city is doing this midway through the term. And a vote on a third rink is going to create additional interest in the civic election.
I wouldn't be surprised if some people will have a greater interest in the results of the plebiscite than the results of the councillor or mayoral races.
If the plebiscite results is close, then the next city council will have a tough decision to make. If it's a narrow yes, that doesn't necessarily mean we're getting a third arena. If it's a narrow victory for the no side, that doesn't mean the concept is dead.
If people vote yes in resounding fashion, then you're likely going to hear a lot of discussion about a third ice surface in the next few years.
There have been calls to have a more detailed question, by including such information as cost, but the question is supposed to be simple.
There's also been a recent complication, but in a good way. The Bienfait Memorial Arena Board appeared at the Sept. 9 meeting of city council with a request to have the City of Estevan and the Town of Bienfait collaborate on renovations to the Bienfait Memorial Arena, with the goal of making the venerable rink the primary third ice surface in Estevan. A partnership between Estevan and Bienfait would provide some fiscal relief for both sides, and would extend the life of a much-needed amenity in Bienfait.
Regardless of the results of the plebiscite, this is an arrangement worthy of a prolonged investigation for city council.
I can see the benefits of a third rink. It makes it easier for scheduling ice time. Not only are families forced to travel to Bienfait right now, but they have to go to rinks in communities like Midale, Lampman, Torquay and Alameda. That's a long drive, especially in the winter.
At the same time, this is not the easiest time in our community's history, and a brand-new third rink would be expensive. The city has expressed an ambitious desire to be free of long-term debt by the end of this decade; a third rink would scuttle those plans, unless someone were to come forward with big bucks.
Do we want a third rink or a field house? That's another question to be asked. I don't think we can have both.
And this isn't an easy time to launch a fundraising campaign. Not only are a lot of people facing financial challenges, but with the MRI for Estevan campaign is well underway and the new nursing home committee will have to raise more money from the community. (I would hope we all think an MRI for St. Joseph's Hospital and a new nursing home are higher priorities than a third ice surface).
But there are people on both sides of the issue who are very passionate about it. It's not my job to tell you how to vote. But I'll encourage you to vote. If you don't, then don't complain about the result.
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