SASKATOON --
The Governance and Priorities Committee on Monday voted in favour of pushing forward with the city’s grand vision of a new downtown arena, convention centre and larger entertainment district.
Before the committee was an administration report outlining options to pay for it. The committee heard about the need for new entertainment infrastructure from SaskTel Centre and TCU Place board members, and the need for better tourism amenities from the hotel and tourism industry.
The end goal, the city said, was to lessen the burden on property taxes. Administration recommended an accommodation tax on all hotel rooms sales, something done in other Canadian cities. But Tourism Saskatoon felt this step would only hurt an already decimated hospitality sector.