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A $53 million white elephant

How can anyone justify a “planned” cost of $53 million for a pool/arena project, for a community of less than 13,000 people?

Re: Proposed Aldergrove recreation centre.

Enough is enough. How can anyone justify a “planned” cost of $53 million for a pool/arena project, for a community of less than 13,000 people.

On a per capita basis, the cost runs to about $4,300 dollars per person — and that’s only if every inhabitant of Aldergrove were able to pay taxes. There is absolutely no business case for this project.

Aldergrove is 37 miles east of Vancouver. There are many other pools and arenas in between.

I do not think that any right-thinking person would drive all the way to Aldergrove to use their facilities, given the many other alternatives in other communities closer to their homes.

At $53 million, where is the money coming from? People, be careful for what you wish for, because this could be just the beginning of an expensive, underutilized, white elephant that will be enjoyed by the few.

James Byard, Langley