5 Must-Read eBooks About Gambling and Sports Betting

Kingsway Entertainment District project continues to be marred with controversy, with a petition on the project’s future doing the rounds.

The uncertain future of the Kingsway Entertainment District continues to be topical in Greater Sudbury, with a long-standing opponent of the project, Patrick Crowe, stirring the pot.  Crowe has recently launched a petition demanding a binding referendum on the validity of the entire project by directly asking the locals whether or not they want the project to proceed.  A referendum can be introduced through a simple yes or no vote. 

Petition and Local Elections

Sudbury has been readying itself for the construction of Kingsway Entertainment District for some time.  However, local opponents of the project seem to have other plans. The recently launched petition seeks locals’ opinion through a referendum on the proposed CA$100-million arena and events centre. The potential referendum question could be implemented through a ballot for municipal elections.

The next local elections are planned to take place in October 2022, giving locals sufficient time to contemplate the subject. The city council has already been asked to introduce this poll on the ballot. Individuals interested in the petition can find it online and get to know the proposal better. The petition makes it clear that instead of building a largescale project that would cost the local taxpayers a whopping CA$100 million, simple renovations on existing facilities could be done instead.

According to petitioners, the existing Sudbury Community Arena situated in the city centre could be improved and modernised to accommodate live events and entertainment. To date, over 700 individuals have signed the petition in support of the proposal to renovate the existing facility.

Project Moving According to Schedule

The month of June saw a positive update on the project from the city mayor, Brian Bigger. According to him, the council’s decision to launch the project remains and can move forward.  Should everything go according to schedule, the event centre will open in 2024.  Bigger also made it clear that there shouldn’t be any further complications with the development.

Bigger added that employees are working closely with the development partners in the Kingsway Entertainment District to ensure a speedy conclusion of the project. According to a report, several major tasks must first be completed before the construction can officially begin. This includes selecting a venue operator, acquiring a request for proposal (RFP), developing road and intersection infrastructure, and presenting design drawings.