Let me first acknowledge that this is not a debate that I claim to enter completely unbiased. Frankly, it would be next to impossible to cover local sports for a living, professing a self-admitted passion for the Sudbury amateur sports scene, and not recognize a slightly skewed viewpoint when discussing the proposed construction of the multi-use recreational complex.

Still, friends who have known me for years will quickly attest to my willingness to undertake a frank and open debate about any issue of interest, listening to valid arguments that might be made on both sides. And it is from this standpoint that I continue to advocate my complete support for the much-discussed project, for a whole variety of extremely valid reasons.

At the very base of this debate has been the question about whether or not a new sports complex is “absolutely necessary”. The naysayers will suggest that there is no good reason to undertake the expenditure involved, citing the project as a luxury of sorts.

Unfortunately, using “absolute necessity” as the litmus test for any municipal spending would mean that by my quite unscientific guess, as much as 50% or more of the Greater Sudbury budget could saved. As an extreme example, I suppose I could argue that municipal libraries are not “absolute necessities”.

The absence of libraries would not put lives at risk, would not necessarily affect the physical health of area residents and in and of itself, probably would not cause anyone to move from Sudbury to a more amenable municipality.

In fact, libraries, the extent of police-related spending, the green areas set aside for the enjoyment of the public, the level of staffing allocated to municipal services such as building controls and social services, the monies spent on road repairs and yes, the facilities that fall under the auspices of leisure services can all be grouped together with a whole slew of other budget-lined items.

All of which gather to create a standard of living that helps to hopefully make the City of Greater Sudbury a destination of choice for couples wishing to settle and raise their families. The municipal amenities combine to attract individuals and businesses alike to the area, helping fuel the economic engine that works its way through all aspects of the City.

The mandate of local politicians as guardians of public coffers is, in many ways, the wise usage of funds at their disposal to help ensure that Sudbury stacks up well against similar sized municipalities. In this regard, it’s clear that our Northern Ontario community with a population of more than 157,000 according to the 2006 Census does not fare well when compared to the likes of Richmond Hill (162,704), Burlington (164,415), Greater Kingston (152,358), Oshawa (141,590) or Barrie (128,430) when it comes to recreational facilities.

I can speak from a great deal of personal experience as well as feedback from many in the local sports community who constantly bemoan how far Sudbury has fallen behind other areas in providing adequate facilities for youth sports. In fact, an internal document which studied Sudbury athletic facilities just a few years ago as much as admitted that the current slate of soccer fields and hockey arenas could not properly service the existing base of users.

Add to this the fact that while spending towards capital expenditures in the area of recreation remained minimal over the past two decades, especially when compared to some of the towns and cities noted above, and it is clear that the wish for a new sports complex is not driven by a need to make Sudbury the envy of countless Ontario communities, but will more precisely simply help close the current gap that exists.

We can all acknowledge that there are certain inherent benefits that come part and parcel of sustaining a healthier community. A lighter drain on the health care system, a workforce with increased efficiency, an opportunity to share with greater frequency the life lessons that can be learned through sport are of absolute benefit to any municipality.

The economic payoff is equally well documented. Ask any Sudbury and area traveler to outline the expenditures they would make on just three days spent at an out of town tournament and it quickly becomes apparent that there is certainly an element of creating a facility that could at least partially pay for itself in the long run.

But perhaps more important for Sudbury specifically than any one of the areas noted above is the fact that every athlete who comes to town for a competition, every set of parents who tag along for tournament action in the Nickel City is a potential future post-secondary student or member of the workforce who might be sold just a little bit more on how much Greater Sudbury really has to offer.

The need to create opportunities to “sell the city” might not be critical to Kingston, with its picturesque waterfront where the waters of Lake Ontario meet the St Lawrence. But it certainly is a must for our area when you are dealing with a Southern Ontario population base that by and large consider a trek to Barrie as “heading North for the weekend”.

Finally, it goes without saying that those who do not see the sports complex as a priority have already ensured that local politicians are keenly aware of their feelings. It is absolutely critical that the thousands of residents who remain convinced that such a facility is both needed and beneficial for a city this size must make their voices heard as well.

An on-line petition in support of the project is available by visiting “http://www.open-ice.ca/”