THUNDER BAY – John Rafferty is onboard. The Thunder Bay Rainy River MP has started a push to get the funding for Thunder Bay’s proposed multi-purpose events centre. “The Thunder Bay multiplex is an exciting community proposal and will be an important economic development tool for the city,” Rafferty said as he rose to deliver a statement on the project in the House of Commons. “It sounds like a perfect project for the federal government to partner in.”
In his statement, Rafferty pointed to the economic benefits of the project as a reason for the federal government to become a funding partner. “Construction and operation of the multiplex will generate $150 million in direct and indirect economic benefits during the construction phase and $22 million per year in annual economic benefits to the residents and businesses of the City once it is completed,” he said.
Rafferty said his statement today is the launch of a sustained push he will be making on behalf of the city to obtain federal funding for the project. “The city has done some excellent work, including engaging and consulting the public in the process, so I want to support this project as much as I can in Ottawa. It will certainly be a sustained push on my part through 2013-14 to get the Harper Conservatives on board.”
