A Source of Regional Distaste

[RyeJay]

From the Times and Transcript...

Yet another example of this newspaper's attempt to create a Moncton Vs. Halifax narrative.
_____________________________________

Still hope for events centre
Published Saturday December 10th, 2011

MP says failure to secure federal funding doesn't mean other chances won't come up in future

Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe Member of Parliament Robert Goguen said no one should give up on the idea of building a downtown events centre in Moncton just because it failed to meet the changed criteria of a program administered by the federal crown Corporation PPP Canada.

It was simply a case of too many applications coming into the program, not a question of merit.

At least one Canadian media report in recent days suggested the federal fund has about $1.2 billion in it but has received applications totalling about $24 billion.

Goguen said he couldn't talk numbers, but the program had indeed proved very popular. He noted communities across the country, including places like Edmonton, Iqaluit and Saint Catharines, Ont., not to mention Gatineau and Prime Minister Stephen Harper's hometown Calgary, all got disappointing news from the arm's-length independent funding body in recent days.

"It's not about saying no to something that wouldn't work. We know the geography. We know that Moncton can be an entertainment centre."

Goguen also said he shared the oft-repeated view of Premier David Alward, who spoke in support of the centre in the legislature yesterday under questioning from Moncton East MLA Chris Collins, that supporting events infrastructure in Moncton isn't just economic development, but also something that offers direct return on investment through recouping HST from the economic activity Moncton events generate.

He said the events centre will remain a priority for him as long as it remains a priority for Moncton.

Goguen also said federal funding programs historically come and go and he predicted that would continue once his government had a better chance to see what the impacts on Canada might be from the current European economic crisis.

The president of Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Incorporated says he's not discouraged by news the city's long-sought downtown events centre has been rejected for federal funding this week. Nor does he think failing to get money from the Crown corporation Public Private Partnerships Canada closes the door on federal money forever.

"This is a large, complex project and it's very unusual for large projects to not have federal help. If you look at Harbour Station, the YMCA in Fredericton, the KC Irving Centre in Bathurst, even the new rink in Bouctouche, they have all been supported by the public sector," Louis Leger said yesterday morning.

"We have a federal representative on the government side of the house and I personally have a lot of confidence in Robert Goguen," he said.

"I'm also confident we as a city can figure it out. We have a lot of dedicated people on this. We just have to work harder, because it's so important to our city."

Meanwhile, is it a case of really lousy timing, or does Nova Scotia's largest urban centre have some hope for federal assistance that New Brunswick's largest urban centre lacks?

Just as the City of Moncton this week has been told they will receive no money towards the building of their long-sought downtown events centre, apparently because the federal government has decided it will no longer fund sports infrastructure under its PPP Canada fund, the City of Halifax has received a three-month extension to get funding for a new stadium that would help host the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup - not to mention one day compete for events with the Stade Moncton 2010 Stadium.

As reported by several Halifax media outlets, Soccer Canada has granted the grace period, and Mayor Peter Kelly has said he will be actively pursuing both Nova Scotia's provincial government and the federal government.

[cormiermax]

I love how they said Nova Scotia's largest urban centre rather than the Maritimes or Atlantic Canada's largest urban centre. Almost seems like they where trying too make Halifax and Moncton comparable

[fenwick16]

I don't think people should take that newspaper too seriously, after all they use The Coast as a source of information.

Here is another story (they don't seem to be aware that the Halifax Convention Centre has already received federal funding.

(source: Times&Transcript)

Blistering concert scandal makes it back to front burner
Published Saturday December 10th, 2011

Haligonian spy and devoted Mayor Peter Kelly fan Big Sister gleefully slips us a missive this week about perfect timing; that being the city's The Coast newspaper breaking a blistering story about the underbelly of Halifax's concert scene just as other interesting developments are emerging.

Based on documents painstakingly procured from Halifax Regional Municipality under the Right to Information laws, The Coast reporter Tim Bousquet published a highly detailed story of ineptitude in the backroom wheeling and dealing among Mayor Kelly, senior city staff, HRM councillors, the provincial government, senior officers of the city's World Trade Centre and Harold MacKay of Power Promotions.

The stories updates tonnes of detail about defaulted loans to promoters, how officials misrepresented the true costs of hosting concerts (the real figure triple what was told to the taxpayers who footed the bill), poor concert attendance numbers swept under the carpet and performers like Kid Rock being scared away with unfounded promises about guaranteed 'front money.'

Earlier this year of course the deputy chief administrative officer for HRM, Wayne Antsey, ended up resigning over the fiasco and best of all, says our twisted sister, Mayor Kelly himself has been so severely castigated by a provincial auditor-general for the whole affair that the former baritone is now singing tenor.

But what makes the timing of The Coast story even juicier is that it comes just as Halifax is about to beg the feds and province for funding for a new outdoor football/soccer stadium so it can rival Moncton. Halifax put in a bid for the 2015 FIFA World Women's Cup of Soccer but FIFA needs proof by the end of this year that a stadium will exist in Halifax by then. HRM applied for a six-month extension this week and FIFA gave 'em 90 days. Trust me, much?

It will be fun, says Sis, to watch Monsieur le Maire stickhandle his way around the mess as he also seeks $50 million for an events centre to build beside their other events centre.

[haligonia]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I don't think people should take that newspaper too seriously, after all they use The Coast as a source of information.

Here is another story (they don't seem to be aware that the Halifax Convention Centre has already received federal funding.

(source: Times&Transcript)

The T&T is about as fair and balanced as 22 Minutes.

But, in their (and The Coast/Bosquet's) defense, Tim Bosquet's massive concert scandal report was impressively well-rounded and well-researched.

[MonctonRad]

I will not attempt to defend the T&T. Their editorial style is nearly that of a tabloid. The best that I can say is that it can make their paper rather entertaining to read at times.

It should be noted that the T&T is not the only news organization in the region that occasionally promotes a "Moncton vs Halifax" story line. I've seen this type of sensationalism before with Steve Murphy and ATV News. The bias on ATV however is distinctly in Halifax's favour, which is somewhat worse in that ATV purports to be "the Maritimes favourite news source". At least the T&T knows it's place as the regional newspaper for eastern NB.

I think the current federal stance regarding funding for sports infrastructure is bad news for both Moncton and Halifax. You guys may still be able to get funding for the stadium though because this is for an international competition. Time will tell. You have three months to make your case.

[q12]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It should be noted that the T&T is not the only news organization in the region that occasionally promotes a "Moncton vs Halifax" story line. I've seen this type of sensationalism before with Steve Murphy and ATV News. The bias on ATV however is distinctly in Halifax's favour, which is somewhat worse in that ATV purports to be "the Maritimes favourite news source". At least the T&T knows it's place as the regional newspaper for eastern NB.

Not to be nitpicky but its been CTV Atlantic (not ATV) for over 6 years now.

Just like ASN which became /A\ is now CTV Two Atantic.

Both based in Halifax of course.

[cormiermax]

Originally Posted by q12

Not to be nitpicky but its been CTV Atlantic (not ATV) for over 6 years now.

Just like ASN which became /A\ is now CTV Two Atantic.

Both based in Halifax of course.

And the new names and branding suck Bring back ATV!

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by q12

Not to be nitpicky but its been CTV Atlantic (not ATV) for over 6 years now.

Just like ASN which became /A\ is now CTV Two Atantic.

Both based in Halifax of course.

Also not to be nitpicky, but the Newfoundland affiliate of CTV is NTV, based in St. John's, and they are completely independent of the Halifax affiliate, so it's a little grandiose to call the station CTV Atlantic. The CTV-2 station for the entire region however is based in Halifax.

I sometimes wish that there was at least a partial supper hour newscast for NB. CTV seems to think they can do justice to the whole province of NB with three full time reporters. There are at least twice as many reporters based in Halifax alone, and the Halifax bias is glaring....

[q12]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Also not to be nitpicky, but the Newfoundland affiliate of CTV is NTV, based in St. John's, and they are completely independent of the Halifax affiliate. The CTV-2 station for the entire region however is based in Halifax.

I sometimes wish that there was at least a partial supper hour newscast for NB. CTV seems to think they can do justice to the whole province of NB with three full time reporters. There are at least twice as many reporters based in Halifax alone, and the Halifax bias is glaring....

Those are the names I didn't make them up. NTV uses both Global and CTV news and shows.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CTV_Atlantic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CTV_Two_Atlantic

Don't worry with Halifax's increase in population it won't be long till it's CTV Halifax.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by q12

Don't worry with Halifax's increase in population it won't be long till it's CTV Halifax.

And that'll be when the New Brunswickers will stop watching the newscast completely.

They already don't watch Steve Murphy in PEI. Dan Viau is their only reporter on the island. The CBC station on PEI has the highest rated suppertime newscast of any local CBC station in the country.

One good thing about calling the station CTV Halifax is that it would be "truth in advertising".

[Jstaleness]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

One good thing about calling the station CTV Halifax is that it would be "truth in advertising".

Yes, Aside from a few Sydney stories the CTV News is generally all Halifax based.
Moncton is mentioned if it's a weather related story though.

[gm_scott]

I still think there are too many Moncton stories. That's why I just watch CBC. They have more professional reporters anyway.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Jstaleness

Yes, Aside from a few Sydney stories the CTV News is generally all Halifax based.

And to people watching in Halifax it is all New Brunswick news.

Moncton is mentioned if it's a weather related story though.

That is about all that ever happens in Moncton.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

And to people watching in Halifax it is all New Brunswick news.

i always knew Haligonians were parochial. The known world ends north of Quinpool Road.......

Just kidding of course. I'm sure Haligonians are just as concerned about the goings on in Souris, Cheticamp or Edmundston as they are in the South End.

[someone123]

Something to keep in mind is that, if news coverage were balanced in terms of covering important events, Halifax news would still dominate. More important events happen there than in Souris or Moncton. This disparity is going to get even larger as Halifax grows.

It is very similar to how on the national news you hear more about Ottawa or Toronto. The (perhaps politically incorrect) reality is that Toronto and Ottawa are more important than Halifax, and Halifax is more important than Moncton or Edmundston.

[Waye Mason]

Downtown Moncton:



I love Moncton, but the place is 1/3 the size of Halifax... our issues are different from their issues. Our competition is other mid-size Canadian cities.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by someone123

Something to keep in mind is that, if news coverage were balanced in terms of covering important events, Halifax news would still dominate. More important events happen there than in Souris or Moncton. This disparity is going to get even larger as Halifax grows.

The growing disparity may prove welcoming. Is it not possible that further economic distance between the abilities of Moncton and Halifax will help ease this relatively minor municipal rivalry? Halifax's growth will make the city seem as less of something to compete with--and something to which you can be a business satellite, and benefit.

The Times And Transcript is pretty much printing for the choir. The readers know it's biased, but love eatin it up.

Unfortunately, Moncton's disappointment in their federal funds rejection is now going to partially translate into bitterness toward Halifax because of the fake narrative.

Originally Posted by someone123

It is very similar to how on the national news you hear more about Ottawa or Toronto. The (perhaps politically incorrect) reality is that Toronto and Ottawa are more important than Halifax, and Halifax is more important than Moncton or Edmundston.

Yes. This is blunty honest. More influential is perhaps the vocabulary I'd use.

Geographically, I wonder how Haligonians (and the media, for that matter) would behave if Quebec City were much closer.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Halifax's growth will make the city seem as less of something to compete with--and something to which you can be a business satellite, and benefit.

This is more realistic as far as Moncton goes. It makes more sense for Moncton to find niches and focus on a few complementary areas, and despite the hyperbole from the T&T that is more or less what is happening. The media like the "Halifax vs. Moncton" angle so they only talk about the 10% of new developments that are in direct competition. In many cases stuff happening in Halifax has no similarly scaled analogue in Moncton. Think shipbuilding contract, commuter rail plans or BRT/ferries, new restaurants, winter games, Pop Explosion, AIFF, university developments and so forth. All of these areas must be quietly ignored in order to create a false sense of tension between two very different cities. The full picture is one-sided.

The shipbuilding contract is a classic example where the rest of the region can win and was never in direct competition with Halifax. Companies in Moncton likely have an advantage now when it comes to many types of subcontracts. Many Maritimers would probably dread the idea of a Halifax with 1 million people or so because it would "dominate the region" but in reality it would likely result in more economic opportunities for nearby cities like Moncton. Similarly there would be more regional tourist dollars to flow to places like PEI or Cape Breton, and NS would have an easier time balancing its books.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by someone123

This is more realistic as far as Moncton goes. It makes more sense for Moncton to find niches and focus on a few complementary areas, and despite the hyperbole from the T&T that is more or less what is happening. The media like the "Halifax vs. Moncton" angle so they only talk about the 10% of new developments that are in direct competition. In many cases stuff happening in Halifax has no similarly scaled analogue in Moncton. Think shipbuilding contract, commuter rail plans or BRT/ferries, new restaurants, winter games, Pop Explosion, AIFF, university developments and so forth. All of these areas must be quietly ignored in order to create a false sense of tension between two very different cities. The full picture is one-sided.

There is a lot of truth to what you say someone and in many ways, the strengths of Moncton and Halifax are complimentary. Moncton shouldn't feel threatened by success in Halifax. A successful Halifax in fact means more growth for Moncton. Indeed, (shipbuilding contract aside), the city in NB that would likely benefit the most from growth in Halifax would likely be Moncton because of central location and geographic proximity.

I guess that the principle source of tension is that some of the "niches" that Moncton (successfully) has chosen to focus on, such as concerts, entertainment, sports tourism, sporting events and retailing are high profile to the general populace and are areas of endeavour that Halifax feels should belong to them rather exclusively. It is these high profile areas of conflict that the media concentrates on rather than on the business sector where our activities are much more complementary.

I guess we can't blame the media for focussing on these few areas of conflict. Controversy after all sells newspapers and builds viewership which leads to increased advertising revenue. Business is business.

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I guess we can't blame the media for focussing on these few areas of conflict. Controversy after all sells newspapers and builds viewership which leads to increased advertising revenue. Business is business.

I'll blame the media for you: journalism isn't suppose to be fictional. Someone is very correct in his reveal of what gets overlooked.