Why the Belltown Dome is forcing Ottawa to confront a much bigger problem

Article contentCullen said the larger concern was that Belltown may not be unique.Article contentOttawa’s long-range financial plan identifies a $229-million annual infrastructure funding gap. According to a city report, more than 130 facilities are expected to reach or exceed their theoretical end of life by 2035, though only about 40 currently have “sufficient merit to justify full replacement.”Article contentAt council, general manager and chief financial officer of the Finance and Corporate Services department Cyril Rogers said the city had a strategy to address the aging

infrastructure.Article content“We do have a strategy in place, we’re showing the backlog,” Rogers said. “We are where we are, and now we have a good plan to get out of where we’re at.”Article content The Belltown Dome’s future is still being decided as the arena has been plagued with problems. The arena is one of many city facilities that is facing infrastructure problems because of age. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIAArticle contentOne option being floated is a dedicated infrastructure levy, a special property tax increase

earmarked specifically for infrastructure improvements. The idea could be considered by the next term of council as Ottawa looks for ways to close its infrastructure funding gap.Article contentCullen said Ottawa had used infrastructure levies before and argued city council would ultimately have to decide whether residents were willing to pay more to maintain aging facilities.Article contentArticle contentKavanagh said she was open to an infrastructure levy, but had not made up her mind just yet. She said residents would need to see exactly what the money

would pay for.Article content“It’s got to be absolutely crystal clear what it’s all about,” she said.Article contentFor Allan McDougall, president of the West End Hockey League, the issue is about access.Article contentHis league serves about 800 families and relies on city arenas. Belltown was once part of the league’s regular ice supply and without it McDougall said any available ice in west Ottawa would help.Article content“We absolutely would benefit from having any available ice service in west Ottawa,” he said.Article content The Belltown Dome’s future

is still being decided as the arena has been plagued with problems. The arena is one of many city facilities that is facing infrastructure problems because of age. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIAArticle contentMcDougall said the city had been a strong partner and praised arena staff, but said demand for ice was growing while supply remained tight.Article content“As Ottawa grows and supply stays the same, we are running into challenges as it relates to having enough ice time for our skaters,” he said.Article contentMcDougall said

the greatest risk was for families who relied on affordable, local recreational hockey, including newcomers trying the sport for the first time.Article content“I think where the risk is, is for disenfranchising families who don’t have the same economic means as many others,” McDougall said.Article contentArticle contentWithout continued investment in public recreation facilities, he warned, families could be pushed toward more expensive private options or longer travel times to rinks in the suburbs.Article contentFor Cullen, the June 23 committee meeting will be about the future of

one site, but also about whether Ottawa is prepared to maintain older facilities in urban neighbourhoods.Article content“We don’t want to go backwards,” he said. “They want to see a plan that will fix the system.”Article contentArticle contentOur website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed.Article content

Belltown Dome, Ottawa infrastructure levy, infrastructure funding gap, aging facilities, Cyril Rogers, West End Hockey League, Allan McDougall, June 23 committee meeting, property tax increase