Even in the face of legal action, Liberal government remains oblivious to Hamilton stadium construction shortfalls: NDP

Ontario NDP Tourism, Culture and Sport critic, Paul Miller, demanded accountability from Premier Wynne for the fiasco around the construction of Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.

“Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton was turned over to the city unfinished and nearly a year late last May. The construction of this stadium under the watch of the government’s Infrastructure Ontario turned into, unfortunately, a fiasco,” said Miller, MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. “Completion and handover was rushed in order to ensure the stadium be used for the Pan Am Games.”

Now, another year has passed and the stadium is still not complete. 

Recently, both the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats filed notices of action in the superior court claiming tens of millions of dollars in damages. Both notices include Infrastructure Ontario, which is tasked by the Liberal government to arrange all privatization contracts. 

“The City of Hamilton’s claim specifies damages over construction delays, disputed contract items, noncompliance with contracts, warranty failings and other deficiencies — including that several hundred seats have obstructed views of the field,” said Miller. “The Tiger-Cats claim that Infrastructure Ontario, ‘made negligent misrepresentations in relation to the design, construction, and completion of the stadium.’”

Miller added that three Pan Am executives placed third, fourth and fifth on last year’s 'sunshine list', collecting over $800,000 each in salaries and bonuses. 

“Why did the Premier authorize bonuses for three Pan Am executives, among the highest paid on the sunshine list, when claims of this magnitude were imminent against the Pan Am organizing committee?” asked Miller.