He was indeed the bearer of bad tidings.
Elliot Lake CAO Daniel Gagnon told City Council the province will not be providing infrastructure funding for the City's planned Recreation Hub. That means it will not be recommending Elliot Lake's hopes for federal funding, either.
Until now, it was understood the province was in favour of the city's plan for the multi-use Hub and its approval would trigger funding from the federal government. The project includes an indoor ice surface, running track, swimming pool, meeting rooms and five sheets of curling ice.
The province used Elliot Lake's highly detailed submission as its template for other communities making their own pitches for recreational facilities.
The disappointing message was received last Friday and was publicly announced at Elliot Lake's regular City Council meeting Monday night.
Gagnon told council he planned to seek out other funding sources to pay for an Engineering Study, the next step in the process to build the $39 million project on land the city owns on Ontario Avenue.
The engineering study is expected to cost between $1.5 and $2 million.
Gagnon said $10 billion dollars worth of Recreation infrastructure projects were submitted for funding province-wide but only $1billion was allotted to fund them.
Councillor Chris Patrie said this is his fourth experience seeking government money for the Recreation Hub while on council. He wanted all spending on the project put on hold and kept on hold until alternate funding is secured.
He called the decision "very disappointing," especially in light of the fact the city spent $1 million to buy the land for the project site where the former Algo Centre Mall once stood.
Both Patrie and Mayor Dan Marchisella noted the city got the go-ahead and was promised money for the project from the former Wynne government at Queen's Park. But no money was paid before the Wynne government was defeated and Premier Doug Ford took over. His government put the funding on hold.
The Mayor suggested there are other design possibilities. As well, he said other funding avenues could be pursued, especially the Northern Ontario Heritage Funding Corporation (NOHFC). He noted the non-profit recently cut two substantial cheques for projects in Sudbury. The mayor said council will never give up on the community.
Councillor Luc Cyr said Elliot Lake may have to build the Rec Hub piece by piece as money becomes available. He suggested, "A 5-or-10 year plan."
Like Patrie, Councillor Norman Mann insisted no more city money be spent on the Rec Hub now, pending more information from the Ontario government about why the project was rejected. Gagnon was tasked with getting the details.
Councillor Sandy Finamore called rejection, "Very disappointing for the user groups."
Both Councillors Ed Pearce and Tom Turner said that while the decision is not what anyone wanted to hear, it should not be allowed to put a permanent damper on the project.
Pearce reminded council the city has committed to the build with or without funding from senior levels of government. He recommended Elliot Lake seek its answers from provincial bureaucrats, not Ontario politicians.
Turner urged, "Do not pause the project." He wanted the Hub Committee to consult with user groups and map out alternative plans for the build.
Gagnon told Council that in light of government rejection, he stopped payment on project funding consultant Daisy Group's August monthly fee.