MLA Shannon Phillips speaks to reporters Thursday Aug. 15

By Lara Fominoff

Lethbridge West MLA critical of UCP government’s response to new performing arts centre funding

Aug 16, 2019 | 2:21 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge West NDP MLA Shannon Phillips says the United Conservative Party government “doesn’t appear to care about Lethbridge.”

The comment is in response to a letter received by her office dated July 12, 2019 from Provincial Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda. In it, Prasad’s office writes that over the last few months the Government of Alberta has evaluated previously endorsed Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) projects that “best realize provincial priorities and are ready to proceed.”

“At this time, the Lethbridge New Performing Arts Centre” has not been re-endorsed for ICIP funding as the project is still in the early planning stages,” the letter states.

Phillips says those words mean the current provincial government isn’t prioritizing much-needed infrastructure projects in Lethbridge.

“This is a major project for Lethbridge. Just like the bridge and just like the supportive housing that they’ve also paused funding on, we’re seeing major projects for Lethbridge, and in particular the supportive housing and the performing arts centre for our downtown, are being neglected by this UCP government.”

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However, while Phillips’ says the centre is something that has been in the works and a priority “for years”, according to Prasad’s letter, it was not endorsed by the NDP government until March 1, 2019- just six weeks before the provincial election. Prior to that, it does not appear that there any money available from either the provincial or federal governments for a new PAC.

According to the province’s own Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure web page, the deadline for this year’s submissions was July 31, well after the provincial election. The next intake on projects is anticipated to occur in the spring of 2020. Prasad’s letter indicates that the project will be considered in future program cycles.

The city’s Yates Theatre has also had more than $13 million dollars in renovations over the last two years with money coming from all three levels of government.

“We see in many centres where you have a smaller theatre for community events and so on, and then you have a larger one where you can attract larger acts and certainly international touring acts and so on. And that is something that Lethbridge is lacking,” said Phillips. “Indeed, Medicine Hat even has what we don’t.”

According to the City of Lethbridge’s website, the latest update (July 2019) indicates that a consultant has been hired to develop a business plan and operating model for a future performing arts centre. The project is expected to take six months. Meetings with several stakeholder groups are expected to take place sometime this month.