Opponents to the gifting of $17.5 million to the YMCA for its proposed new membership supported facility in Abbotsford will be appearing before Abbotsford City Council Monday night.
Represented by Fred Thiessen, who spoke before Council and an estimated 250 people on January 21st about the proposal, the group has purchased advertising in the Abbotsford News which for the first time (other than a short story after the January 21 meeting) covered the story in any meaningful fashion last week by claiming that a campaign has ‘started‘ against the YMCA proposal.
Thiessen began his campaign January 17 and issued press releases to all media to no avail. The Abbotsford Times has still not admitted his existence.
On Friday, Abbotsford Today revealed that “Sources have informed Abbotsford Today that Minister of Finance, Mike de Jong, has approached one, or more, of these groups. He has allegedly stated that if the YMCA does not receive Abbotsford tax dollars and therefore proceed on schedule, the funding for these other groups may go to another City instead of being awarded here in Abbotsford. He allegedly advised one group not to speak out against the YMCA project or risk their own funding.”
Regular Public Hearing
Matsqui Centennial Auditorium
April 8th 2012 @ 7:00pm
The YMCA Proposal
.
For background click here.
For the YMCA’s position click here.
For the YMCA’s third option click here.
For the YMCA’s brochure
click here.
For a complete record of all the stories, columns, posts and discussions on Abbotsford Today about the YMCA click here.
To tell us what you think use the comments box below, use the Send Us A Story section at the bottom of the home page or email use at editor@abbotsfordtoday.ca.