Hamilton challenges Conservatives to honour their word

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Hamilton challenges Conservatives to honour their word

CALGARY, 25 November 2011 — The Conservatives have backed out of their agreement to help fund community centres in Calgary. The $100 million promised in 2009 was the federal share of a $400 million commitment to building hockey rinks, swimming pools, and local recreation facilities in the city. By re-writing the eligibility rules on the fly, the Conservatives – including eight Calgary MPs – have let down the people of Calgary, and shown contempt for the public-private partnership they initiated.

“Our communities matter, and Calgarians know it,” said William Hamilton, the Calgary Centre candidate for the Green Party of Canada in the 2011 general election. “Thursday’s news that the federal government is backing out of its commitment to help fund four new community centres is a slap in the face to the people of this city.

“Trust, continuity, and transparency are essential to effective public-private partnerships. The City of Calgary worked in good faith with Ottawa for two years, and counted on the federal government to come through with $100-million for a 25-per-cent stake in these recreation facilities. That Ottawa is reneging on its commitments speaks volumes about how worthy Calgary’s contingent of federal Conservative MPs are of our trust.”

The Green Party of Canada calls on the federal government to come back to the table with the $100-million they pledged to recreation facilities in Calgary. “Strong communities are the backbone of Canada,” said Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich—Gulf Islands. “Recreational facilities offer places for people to be healthy, have fun, and get together. Hockey rinks and swimming pools are a higher priority for Canadians than mega-prisons and fighter jets. The government should honour its commitment and restore funding to the community centres it promised to support in Calgary.”

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November 25, 2011   Posted in: Uncategorized

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