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Tuesday, September 20, 2011 www.metronews.ca News worth sharing.
Council OKs spending on skate event
Berry. Bark
Economic benefit of World Figure Skating Championships expected to near $30 million
Roger Carlos, a partner in Forrat’s Chocolates, makes chocolate berry bark yesterday at the Covent Garden Market. ANGELA MULLINS/METRO
Try one — it’ll be worth your truffle Forrat’s got its start at the downtown market in 2003 and since then has expanded to a shop on Richmond Street, one in Hamilton and another in Windsor. The business is gearing up for fall and winter and soon will roll out seasonal goodies like pumpkin spice, eggnog and champagne truffles.
City council gave preliminary approval yesterday on spending $4.1 million to present a good image during the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships. Councillors took two votes on separate clauses in a motion that approved the spending in principle and lands the issue in front of the finance and administration committee on Oct. 19. The first clause — approving the spending in principle — passed 11-3, the other part of the motion passed 14-0. The votes came after a lengthy conversation about shelling out the money. Some councillors questioned why private businesses weren’t footing some of the bill. “This is a city of London event. The way we’re shaping this thing up is to be a taxpayers’ event,” said Coun. Dale Henderson, who opposed the motion on the first
“We are going to get our money back 100 fold from what we invest. Come on, let’s be excited for once or twice.” MAYOR JOE FONTANA
vote. “Where’s the money from the John Labatt Centre? Where’s the money from the hotels? I want to see some matching money.” Others, including Mayor Joe Fontana, urged their colleagues to remember the long-lasting economic benefit a solid performance during the championships could bring to the city. The city couldn’t buy the amount of publicity the championships will bring, Fontana said. ANGELA MULLINS