Mayor Jonathan Cote will be wearing two hats when he visits Ottawa next week.
The City of New Westminster is still awaiting word about whether its grant application to the Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund the aquatic and community centre project has been approved. If the city receives a $22.4-million grant, it will build an enhanced facility that allows for swim competitions as well as community features, otherwise it will build a community recreation facility.
“We still have not heard an announcement. I am actually heading to Ottawa next week and have some meetings with a couple of ministers. We are doing what I’d say is the last big pitch for that grant process,” Cote told the Record. “We also have a number of other major projects that we are advocating for on the city’s behalf as well.”
Construction of the new aquatics and community centre is set to begin in April.
During his Feb. 4 to 6 trip to Ottawa, Cote will also be meeting with federal officials on behalf of the Mayors Council on Regional Transportation. Cote is chair of the Mayors’ Council.
“I am wearing two hats,” he said. “We have a number of meetings set up related to City of New Westminster issues, namely to help promote the grant of the Canada Games Pool but also to try and get support for the district energy system that we are building in Sapperton. But am also going to have some meetings wearing my Mayors’ Council hat, where I am going to be advocating for the permanent transit fund from the federal government. I will have a very full day with lots of meetings, and will be switching hats between New Westminster and Mayors’ Council.”
