CITY COUNCIL – Mayor to try again to put off PAC, arena projects for a year

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson will try again to have the new $211-million performing arts centre and $140 million multi-sheet arena projects postponed.

The projects were approved via the alternative approval process and work has started on the PAC’s Seymour Street site. The multi-sheet arena and library branch will be located in Dufferin.

The mayor, who says he supports the projects but thinks more funding is needed from other levels of government, submitted a notice of motion at today’s ( March 10, 2026) City council meeting proposing the delay “for a period of one year or until such time as a newly elected council provides further direction.”

His motion states the provincial budget may increase financial pressures on taxpayers, who face additional costs due to plans for a new RCMP building. “Major capital projects should be considered within the broader context of the City’s overall financial capacity and competing infrastructure priorities” and “should be advanced with the broadest possible public confidence.”

It goes on to note that “residents will elect a new council responsible for establishing priorities for the following term and have an opportunity to express their priorities regarding major civic investments.”

In addition to postponing the projects, the motion proposes suspending “new procurement, contractual commitments, design advancement, or construction activities related to these projects except where legally required to avoid material financial penalties.”

It stipulates that he’s not suggesting cancellation of the projects or invalidation of planning that has taken place.

Hamer-Jackson, who said outside the meeting that he supports the project but believes more federal and provincial funding is needed, wants administration to report on any financial or legal implications that would be involved in pausing the projects.