Council debating downtown skating rink [Video]

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens was forced to weigh in on the decision to build a $15 million ice rink as part of the Civic Esplanade project.

As previously reported by CTV News, the project is under-funded by $6 million, with only $9 million in pre-approved funding.

Councillors debated for more than two hours about pulling money out of the following funding streams:

• $ 2,300,000 from the Corporate Inflation Mitigation project
• $3,209,200 from the Pre-Commitment of Uncommitted 2025 Canada Community Building fund
• $576,055 from the Pre-Commitment of Uncommitted 2025 Tourism Infrastructure Development and Program fund

Councillors Fred Francis, Angelo Marignani, Fabio Costante, Mark McKenzie, and Joanne Gignac voted against the idea.

They said the project is more of a want and not a need.

Image rendering of the proposed ice rink as it would appear in the winter. (Source: The City of Windsor)

“I’ve always wanted a jaguar convertible. Instead, I have a Dodge Journey,” Gignac said Monday. “I …