University Report Card

I wondered why there was a flurry of University of Windsor activity in the Star a few days ago, including a Ross Paul Guest Column. Oh I knew that it was almost Maclean's time again. But I did not know that the Globe and Mail had a ranking program as well.

Anyway, there is probably going to be a huge celebration at the University today. In the Globe ranking of medium-sized schools for "educational experience" Windsor did NOT come in last. It tied for second-last beating out the University of Calgary.

Can you imagine what will happen if the school goes up a notch in the Maclean's poll also. Dennis DesRosiers will have to come back here and give another speech and might even get an honourary degree!

Brian And Joe---What's Your Excuse Now?

Are you as tired as I am hearing Brian Masse whining rather than accomplishing something positive on the border issue?

I see that Joe Comartin has been nominated again to run for the NDP in the next Federal election. He may not have any real opposition now that Dwight is Minister of Finance and Eddie would have a tough time if he had to list what he accomplished as a politico.

But why shouldn't they both be easy to beat?

It's always nice being a member of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. You can whine and moan and criticize knowing that you have no responsibility for accomplishing anything. You are always right, never wrong and have the answer for everthing that ails the country. If only the Government would listen, the world would be right!

Brian and Joe, you had better warn your leader that he is departing from the script! Check out the Globe and Mail story below. If he doesn't smarten up, there may actually be an election and then where will you be? You can no longer hide behind the excuse that you are just a minority party. Your Party propped up the Government once, "the historic NDP Better Balanced Budget" and you do hold the balance of power after all.

Oh sure your party is concerned about the Windsor border since it is so vital to the economy of Canada. But I did not see that issue on the list of important matters that your Leader set out as priorities. That might be your Achilles heel.

It will be interesting to hear your excuses then as the "Government" party as to why you did nothing on the border.

Don't take support for granted, NDP warns Grits

Globe and Mail Monday, October 17, 2005

"NDP Leader Jack Layton laid out his conditions for supporting the Liberal minority government yesterday, warning Prime Minister Paul Martin that his party will not be taken for granted.

We won't keep a Parliament going just to hear Mr. Martin speak," the NDP Leader told his MPs and candidates who were attending a weekend conference in Ottawa.

Mr. Layton said he wants action on health care, post-secondary education, pensions, pollution and jobs. No one issue is more important than the other, he said, although his party will be focusing on preventing what he says is further privatization of the health-care system.

"If these Liberals want to get to work on issues like those I've mentioned, we'll be there to get things done," he told his supporters. "If not . . . Mr. Martin should understand he better not count on the NDP's support in the weeks to come."

The 19 NDP MPs in the House of Commons hold the balance of power, and so failure to respond to Mr. Layton's conditions could provoke the fall of the Martin government as early as next month. If that happens, a federal election will be held around Christmas."

Environmental Justice And The Border

One of STOPDRTP's proudest moments when I was General Counsel came when, after a secret meeting of the previous Council, Council apparently agreed to allow DRTP North to be built. To give comfort to home-owners in DRTP South, that part of the DRTP corridor was to be turned into a park or bicycle path. Clearly, this was an attempt to split the richer southern part and poorer northern part of the City. STOPDRTP turned that idea down cold, calling it a betrayal of Council's public position of only a month earlier opposing DRTP in its entirety. I recalled that event when I received the following email from a person I met at the recent Bi-national CCG meeting. I thought it important to set out especially since she opposes the Ojibway Bridge.

The person lives in Delray, Michigan which is described as "one of the most polluted places in the state of Michigan...Its current residents are predominantly low-income people, about half are people of color, and many residents have either owned their houses for many years or have inherited their homes from parents and other relatives. There are many seniors living below poverty on fixed incomes. Most of them could not move out if they wanted to, due to financial constraints and low property values in the neighborhood. "

It brings into play an aspect of this struggle that we in Canada are not that familiar with: "environmental justice." (Environmental Protection Agency (1997) defined environmental justice as "fair treatment for people of all races, cultures, and incomes, regarding the development of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.) This email brings the point home better than I could ever describe it and presents a different aspect in determining a border solution!

• "I live in a area in Detroit called Delray, west Delray to be exact. They split our area into east and west Delray so they can put their bridge here somewhere. We are on the "short list' of sites left for the possible new border crossing (a bridge).
  
  First of all let me say that I really enjoy reading your blog. It makes me laugh sometimes at the way you word things and it also gives me a feeling of hope at other times.
  
  I belong to our community group, the Delray Community Council and on the LAC, local advisory council which is like your CCG in Canada. All the community groups get together to bring up issues and try to discuss them at a reasonable tone. But I can not. I always stand up for myself and now I'm standing up for our community.
  
  Our entire neighborhood will be leveled for this crossing. 320 homes, several businesses, a long standing history over 100 years, and about 12 places of worship. One of those churches, Holy Cross, is on the registry of historic places and is in excellent condition. We have pictures of it on our web site www.delraycommunitycouncil.com We just got this site a few weeks ago.
  
  Anyway I believe that if the Ambassador bridge goes through with their expansion process, another crossing won't be needed at least not for a very long time.
  
  By all of the reading, meetings, and information I have found, I feel they only want this bridge for status, power, control, and money reasons. Not even for money reasons because I believe they will lose money not make it. Then what; another 800 pound gorrilla to take care of! And we will be the ones losing our homes and churches for a project that will probably fail. The irony is that our tax dollars will help them to throw us out and pay for this thing! We can never get all that back.
  
  We had a LAC meeting on Wed. Oct. 26th and they were talking about how the final 2 or 3 sites will be announced in late Nov., the 28th to be exact. Our group is pretty sure that we are one of them.
  
  Also we are told we will get market value for our homes. The problem with that is the market value here is low because the city has let this area go to hell. We do the best we can to keep it up and even host clean-up days and do the work ourselves. Market value here is around 10 to 30 thousand dollars.
  
  How can I start over somewhere else for that! It won't even cover moving expences. I have a large home with 9 rooms, a finished basement, a large yard and a 3 car brick garage. I checked out other areas in Michigan and other states in the U.S. and this property anywhere else runs 350 to 550 thousand. It's over 100 years old with 12 foot curved ceilings, claw foot bathtubs, glass beveled french doors inside and the old ironing board in the wall trick in the kitchen. They can never replace this house with something similar at 30 thousand.
  
  But we are at the mercy of these a-holes who don't care that they are feeding us to the dogs. My family has been in this neighborhood, on this very street, for over 100 years. That they can't replace either.
  
  This area is mostly low to middle income and our seniors are living on their social security. Their homes are paid for so all they pay is gas, lights, phone and grocery bills. They have no living relatives and say they would rather die than live in a state runned facility.
  
  Well I have bent your ear enough. Sometimes you just need to vent. Please keep up the good work and if you hear any good news, please let me know. I don't know if you go to these bridge meetings or not but if your interested I can send you dates and times about where ours are taking place. It's going to get REALLY INTERESTING from here on out. Thanks for your blog site."

Gretzky As The Opiate For The Masses

There is no doubt about it. Gord's column the other day must mean the Arena deal at the Raceway must be almost dead. [Fortunately to keep the arena dream alive, there is a rumour circulating about another downtown arena involving the Spits. I contacted the suggested developer and he wondered who started it using his name.]

Whew, the scandal with the Spitfires will be a great excuse for the Councillors walking away from the deal and not having to make enemies by giving their real reasons to kill it(and then replacing it with the urban village dream just in time for the next election)

Oh well, the Mayor can tell Tony Toldo that he tried so that Tony will not still be angry at Eddie when he was Councillor for voting against giving money to Hospice.

Frankly it will be personally embarrassing for the Mayor if the Arena deal dies. Remember what he said during the election campaign: "Eddie Francis portrayed himself Tuesday as the only mayoral candidate who can bring a new multi-use facility to Windsor. "I am standing here today to correct the inaction of the past" No checkmark on the Report Card now.

I hardly think that the Spitfire story will kill the deal. By my count, at least 5 Councillors were against it at the time that Beztak was run out of town during Council's Spanish Inquisition. And the Casino project is moving ahead nicely now.

But killing it now would not be good for some people so we need to keep the dream alive for a couple of more months. Out comes the Gretzky story again. I am sure you remember this line from Gord Henderson's column over three years agao "'It's a crying shame. Windsor could have had a big piece of that," groaned city businessman Dave Batten as he contemplated Wayne Gretzky's elevation from retired hockey superstar to national hero." This was after the Olympics when Canada won the gold medal in hockey.

The column continued ""It's too sad for words. Gretzky is going to play a big role in everybody's lives from now on and we could have been part of that," said Batten, a partner in the Jebb arena proposal that was nixed by the city a year ago on the grounds that the numbers didn't crunch."

Gretzky can still be part of Windsor's life...for a few more months anyway. My wife had a better idea. Make his restaurant part of the new Casino expansion. And then we can use the $15 million to move the University downtown to become a true focus for our new "urban village."

Toronto Stadium To Get Senior Level Funding

I don't get it. Why does the Toronto get money from the Senior Levels and Windsor does not? Why does the County get grants and Windsor does not? Do you think it might be because Windsor's Mayor and Council snubbed them and they are still teaching us a lesson? Is it their equivalent of sitting a bad child in the SuperNanny's "naughty chair."

I wonder if I should call Beztak to go to Toronto after reading the Toronto Star story, excerpts of which I am publishing below. What a deal!

Larry Tanenbaum is Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and was involved in the past with Borealis of DRTP fame. He was paid $15.7 million when OMERS bought out Borealis. MLSE and Borealis Infrastructure are involved with Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto also. I always expected Borealis to offer to build an arena here in order to convince Windsorites that DTP was a good idea. Maybe they still will if the Raceway deal falls apart.

City spends $9.8M for soccer stadium
Council okays spending $9.8M
Critics call it bad deal for city
VANESSA LU AND JOHN SPEARS
CITY HALL BUREAU

After a 4 1/2-hour, heated debate on whether the city should be subsidizing a private sports enterprise, Toronto councillors voted to spend nearly $10 million toward a soccer stadium.

In a 25 to 13 vote, councillors gave the go-ahead for $9.8 million of public money to help build a soccer stadium at Exhibition Place in a deal with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owners of the Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors.

"This is so wrong. This is so bad," shouted Councillor Mike Del Grande (Ward 39, Scarborough-Agincourt). "It's a backroom deal."

Some councillors criticized the plan for the 20,000-seat stadium, saying it is earmarking taxpayer dollars for a project that never went out for proper tender. They warned the city could be on the hook for any future losses.

But the cash-poor city doesn't have the funds to pay for the venture, so it will have to borrow $9.8 million. That means the deal will cost the city $16 million after interest is calculated over 20 years. City officials estimate that at the end of the 20-year agreement it will be ahead $200,000 and it will own the stadium. The city is also offering up the land, valued at $10 million, without charging any annual rent or receiving any property tax.

Under the proposal, the federal government is expected to chip in $27 million and the provincial government $8 million. While there is no agreement in writing, chief financial officer Joe Pennachetti said the city has reassurances that they are on board. And if they fail to deliver, then the city can back out.

MLSE will pay $18 million and will be on the hook for any construction cost overruns. As for operating losses, MLSE will foot the first $250,000 and any other losses will be shared with the city on a 50-50 basis. Any profits will be shared equally.

In light of the recent inquiry into the MFP affair, Del Grande warned the city was making another mistake, embarking on a deal that did not undergo proper scrutiny. A request for proposal was never issued, and other private sector partners were never sought.

Several councillors warned of the SkyDome experience, where it cost more than $600 million to build, mostly at taxpayer expense, and the stadium was sold last year to Rogers Communications for $25 million.

Three Years To Achieve Nothing

Even the Globe and Mail cannot get it right yet. The Bridge Co. does NOT want the Twinned Bridge today---it has a new proposal on the table.

No matter. The Globe and Mail story I found is hilarious if true. Exactly where we were three years ago! [Press Release----November 26, 2002 JOINT COMMITTEE DELIVERS WINDSOR GATEWAY ACTION PLAN] What a complete and total farce! The JMC never dies.

Short list for new Windsor-Detroit link on tap

Competitors target Ambassador Bridge twinning proposal

By BRENT JANG

Monday, October 31, 2005
TRANSPORTATION REPORTER


A short list of contenders to build a new Detroit-Windsor crossing could be released as early as this week, placing pressure on the U.S. billionaire who owns the Ambassador Bridge to defend his turf.
Detroit International Bridge Co., controlled by entrepreneur Manuel (Matty) Moroun, has a plan to twin its privately run Ambassador Bridge, but that proposal is expected to face stiff competition, possibly from three challengers.

The Border Transportation Partnership, a bi-national study group formed by governments in Canada and the United States, narrowed its short list to seven from 15 proposals last month.

Industry sources familiar with the Detroit-Windsor corridor say the list could soon be shortened to contain four "concepts" for expanding border capacity to ease trucking congestion at North America's busiest commercial crossing.

The four front-runners are seen to be: the Ambassador Bridge's twinning plan; a proposal by Mich-Can International Bridge Co. to construct a new bridge; the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership's plan to convert an existing train tunnel into trucking use; and a bridge concept modelled after a Windsor-commissioned study by traffic consultant Sam Schwartz.

Evaluation of the contenders is scheduled to continue this week, and a public announcement has been tentatively set for Nov. 28. However, the short list could be completed internally as early as this Friday and potentially ready for public release within days, a government source said.

About $125-billion, or one-quarter of the $500-billion a year in merchandise trade between Canada and the United States, flows annually across the Ambassador Bridge. The timetable calls for the study group to recommend a preferred site across the Detroit River -- either a bridge or tunnel -- by the fall of 2007.

Ambassador Bridge managers didn't return calls for comment, but they have previously said that they're prepared to forge ahead with twinning their 75-year-old suspension bridge, regardless of which concept is ultimately selected as the winner from the short list.

There is fear in some industry and political circles that the Ambassador Bridge will maintain its stranglehold on international truck traffic, notably moving auto parts, said Dan Friesen, a University of Windsor business professor.

Mich-Can managing director Ross Clarke said his team's plan has private-sector supporters, such as engineering firm Fluor Corp.

"Matty Moroun controls the main artery for trade between Canada and the U.S.," Mr. Clarke said. "It's time to inject some competition on the border."

The Detroit River Tunnel Partnership, which dubs itself the "jobs tunnel," is backed by Calgary-based Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. and Borealis Transportation Infrastructure Trust, which is controlled by the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement Board. The tunnel proponent's leader is former Windsor mayor Michael Hurst.

"We shouldn't put all our eggs in one basket, having that crossing virtually monopolized by one player -- Mr. Moroun's Ambassador Bridge," Mr. Hurst said. "A single individual ought not to have effective control of so much trade going between Canada and the United States."

Brian Masse, the New Democratic Party MP whose Windsor West riding includes the Canadian side of the Ambassador Bridge's entrance, said it's important for a new link to have separate ownership from Mr. Moroun's holdings.

Mr. Masse favours full government ownership of the new link, no matter which location is chosen. "Public ownership of the crossing will be crucial for security," he said.

But Liberal Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, who is also Public Safety Minister, said she's committed to letting the bi-national group carry out its study. The group's governance statement declares that it is open to the idea of some form of public-private partnership, "subject to appropriate public oversight in both countries."

Members of the study group include Ontario's Ministry of Transportation, Transport Canada, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

"The development of additional border capacity is a national priority in both countries," Ms. McLellan said in a letter last week to Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis.

Is Detroit's Gain Windsor's Loss

DCTC is a private company that runs both sides of the Tunnel. It has an agreement with the City of Detroit that lasts for another 15 years and one with the City of Windsor that is due to expire in 2 years but DCTC is negotiating with Windsor to extend it.

I assume that Detroit Council must owe a big debt of gratitude to the Bridge Co. for their recent proposal to give them more money over the remaining term of the DCTC agreement---$20 million more. In fact, the DCTC people have apparently told the Detroit Council that they are now prepared to renegotiate their lease. I assume that that will mean that Detroit will receive at least the money to match what the Bridge Co. has offered! Too bad they did not get that money in the past.

According to Deputy Mayor Anthony Adams , DCTC pays Detroit about $600,000 per year. So Detroit should receive slightly more than an extra $1.3 million per year which it would not have received but for the big, bad Bridge Co.

But hold on there....where is that money going to come from? Since DCTC's books are private, who knows? One possible source though is the City of Windsor. How is that possible you say----Remember that DCTC wants to extend their lease with Windsor. How much does Windsor receive? According to Councillor Dave Brister, Windsor receives $6 million in revenues from the Tunnel or 10 times more than the City of Detroit! [I do not know if that includes Duty-free revenue as well]

Presumably therefore, Windsor's amount has to be decreased by some amount or else how will DCTC be able to maintain profitability? If Tunnel revenues are decreased, then don't Windsor taxpayers have to make up the difference?

I thought there was a process that took place in Detroit and both DCTC and the Bridge Co. made their "best" offer. Is it proper now to allow DCTC re-open their bid if they lost?

As for Windsor, have we received the best terms if DCTC can offer Detroit so much more? Why should Windsor renegotiate in secret and with just one Company? Why isn't the process open and PUBLIC to all major players so that we can get the highest amount?

In fact, has the renegotiation already taken place? Who knows since everything here is done secretly at City Council. Remember that the rumour was that Mayor Eddie wanted to buy the Tunnel from Detroit. Windsor would not have the money to do that but a financing group would. And with whom is DCTC associated? Macquarie Bank, a major infrastructure player. Or has a deal been done with DRTP's owner and friend of the Ontario Finance Ministry, OMERS/Borealis?

Now the Mayor is suggesting, probably as a bargaining ploy with DCTC, that perhaps the City might run the Tunnel itself. Remember that was an option on the survey questionnaire I posted previously. Instead of selling the Tunnel now we are going to be running it....Oh my.

I sent the following note to the Mayor and Council and of course received no reply:

• "RE: Extension of DCTC Tunnel operating agreement
  
  Would you please advise if this Agreement has been extended either by the Windsor Tunnel Commission or the City of Windsor. If it has been extended, please advise me of the date to which it has been extended.
  
  Please advise as well when this matter will come before Council so that I may appear as a delegation.
  
  In the circumstances of what is talking place at the border, may I please have this information by the close of business on October 28, 2005."

Taxpayers have to pay out already big bucks to pay for the renovations that were unexpected at the Tunnel ventilation building and now the Mayor is considering playing entrepreneur at taxpayer expense. He should remember why he was elected in the first place. He also should remember what Mayor Daley said when he announced the Skyway deal, "running a toll road is not a core function of city government. Obviously, the Detroit mayor has also figured that out.

Here we go again, the Windsor Junior "A" City Council trying to play in the NHL when it comes to major financing deals. Haven't we learned from MFP and Canderel yet?