Dear Editor:
As a politician, nothing makes me happier during an election period than a voter who is thoughful and engaged - and nothing worries me more than one basing their vote on misinformation.
I'd like to assure Dave Lundy (Where's the fresh perspective here?, Opinion, The Record, Sept. 19) that our beautiful new Anvil Centre was not a public-private partnership. Mr. Lundy has no need to fret that Jonathan Cote changed his mind in any way by supporting a model that council chose to have the centre built.
It was council's idea to have a partner with us in the construction of the office tower that is part of the Anvil complex, both to attract more business to the city and to offset overall costs of construction. The arrangement did not follow the public-private partnership model, however. Had it done so, the entire complex would have been built, financed and operated by the private partner.
Instead, the city built the office tower and sold it, much like someone might build a house and sell it for profit.
In our case, the profit was about $5 million.
The Anvil Centre today is operated by the city, a public entity, with a conference centre, restaurant and coffee shop that will generate revenue for the city.
The crowds that jammed the centre on opening day agreed that we have succeeded in providing our city with a centre that will prove to be a vibrant, architecturally stunnning anchor for our downtown, and an office tower that will house the growing workforce and commercial base that will ensure our city's health.
Coun. Cote was a key part of the team that made the centre possible. As election day approaches, voters would be well served to welcome his focus, energy and expertise to the mayor's chair.
Bill Harper, city councillor, New Westminster
