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Toronto 2015 Pan American Games

Map of the venues:

555px-PanAm_Games_Locations.svg.png
 
Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak warns of "significant Pan Am cost over-runs"

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/art...ays-progressive-conservative-leader-tim-hudak

Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak is calling for a change to “outdated” Ontario labour laws, which he claims will lead to significant cost overruns at the TO2015 Pan American Games.

Hudak, a critic of the games along with MPP Rod Jackson, pointed to Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, which needs a $155 million renovation before it’s ready to host the soccer event.

Hudak said the price could increase by as much as 40 per cent because the city was handcuffed by “closed tendering.” Exactly how that figure – which would amount to more than $60 million in cost over runs – was calculated is unclear. Hudak said he got it from the City of Hamilton.

“At a crucial time to actually reign in overspending, we have great concern that Ontario’s outdated labour laws are going to drive the cost (of the Pan Am Games) up,” said Hudak.

A spokesperson for the TO2015 Games said the cost to renovate Ivor Wynne is non-negotiable and will not increase.

In Hamilton, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America has exclusive rights to all carpentry-related work. This means only contractors that work with the union can bid on city construction projects.

The PC leader wants to change Ontario’s Labour Relations Act so that public employers are exempt from exclusivity agreements with unions.

As it stands, unions certified under the Act have exclusive rights to bargain on behalf of their employees — but that is not what limits contracting out. It is the collective agreement that does this, said a Ministry of Labour spokesperson.

The Pan American Games are still three years away, but critics are already accusing the organizing team of being over budget and behind schedule. Earlier this month, Jackson launched a weekly Pan Am accountability series to draw attention to areas he believes are of concern.
Click to expand...
 
Ajax (just west of Oshawa on the Map above) will host the Pan Am Ball Park. Both Softball and Baseball will be held here with four stadiums (two for each sport one being 5,000 seats the other 1,000).
 
Update on the Athletes' Village in the July edition of the WT Newsletter:

Pan Am Village Construction Update

Favourable weather conditions this summer have allowed EllisDon Ledcor PAAV Inc. to continue their steady pace of work on the Pan Am Village site in the West Don Lands.

Roadwork/Infrastructure
Work on Old Eastern Avenue continues to progress well. Crews are scheduled to complete site services in mid-July, which will allow them to proceed with the removal of an old gas line. Once complete, installation of a new gas line is scheduled to take place in September. Site services continue on Cherry Street and include the installation of a new sanitary sewer at the north end of the street and a new storm sewer at the south end. Crews are forming and pouring several man holes.

The subdivision roadwork continues with the installation of street lighting conduit and concrete pole bases. Hydro work is scheduled to commence in August and gas work is scheduled to follow in September.

YMCA/George Brown College Site
Much progress continues on the YMCA/George Brown College student residence construction site. A second tower crane has been installed, and the forming and pouring of columns from the basement to the ground floor continues. Work has started on the underground mechanical work as well as on the perimeter foundation and waterproofing. Next, crews will start forming and creating the swimming pool.

Affordable Housing
Last month, a third crane was installed at one of the affordable housing sites north of Front Street. Work continues on the forming and pouring of walls and columns from the basement to ground floor. With the crane base poured, the site’s fourth crane is scheduled for erection mid-July to begin the column work required on another of the affordable rental buildings. Caisson work continues.

http://www.waterfrontoronto.ca/widgets_newsletter/read-newsletter/id/43

AoD
 
More venue news:

Blessed Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School will host the shooting/run combined event of the Modern Pentathlon. It is right across the street from the Aquatics Centre.
 
Good for the Globe say something positive about the city, not concerned over the inevitable sniggering outside of Toronto.
 
intoronto1125 said:
Anyone excited for these games watching London 2012?
Click to expand...

It has given me a little more excitement to look forward to but the drive from upper levels of government to improve Toronto is not there because A) this isn't a Toronto games and B) we don't have the spotlight of the world and the ruthlessness of the IOC to contend with.

Nonetheless, this will be a good feely event for our city and the region. It'll put athleticism at the front of people's minds and give many Torontonians a reason to stay in their city that summer.
 
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