Funding dispute delays Shakespeare on the Sask. construction

Current members and alumni of Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan deviated from their original plan on Saturday and hosted a homecoming event to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Saskatoon-based theatre company.

The day was originally meant to celebrate a sod turning ceremony for the group’s upcoming permanent facility next to the Nutrien Wonderhub on the South Saskatchewan River.

A dispute between the Saskatchewan and federal governments has put the construction on pause for the time being.

The province is requesting a minor tweak to the agreement that would allow it to pull money from public transit funds and use them to pay for community projects. Otherwise, the Saskatchewan government could pull its share of funding for three projects: Regina’s Globe Theatre, The Gordie Howe Sports Complex and Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan.

“We’re looking forward to a sod turning (ceremony) in the future, and we’re just holding off for now while we wait for the pending application to hopefully be approved,” marketing director Alan Long said.

The move from Moe could be seen as a tactic to hold up construction during important summer months to rearrange the deal in his government’s favour.

“The folks at Gordie Howe Bowl said it quite eloquently, we’re just on the sidelines, waiting to see what’s going to happen,” Long said.

Roughly $10 million of federal money has been set aside for the Saskatoon projects, but with the cost-sharing scheme in limbo, it’s anyone’s guess when money will arrive.

Gordie Howe Sports Complex halted construction at its facility last month because of the dispute.

A sticking point for the province is the four funding streams involved in the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan.

Certain streams are earmarked for Regina and Saskatoon, while others are for the rest of the communities across Saskatchewan. Moe would like to see Ottawa add to the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure fund, so funds can be allocated from the proper channels for the three projects.

“What we’re saying is, ‘Stay in your lanes with respect to the application towards those funds,'” Moe said on Wednesday. “We don’t want Saskatoon and Regina to be applying to receive funds from the other fund, which is available to the other communities in the province.

“The federal government is saying that those dollars are not coming out of that fund, they’re going to come out of the other fund, which is available to all of the people in the province.”

Having the projects stripped away from the grassroots organizations is a real possibility.

“Let’s hope they’re not,” Moe said. “Let’s hope the federal government opens up that funding envelope that is available to Saskatoon and Regina sooner rather than later, because they’re important projects.

“This has been occurring for quite some time, and it’s time to move forward if we’re not going to lose this particular construction season on all these projects.”

Long said Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan has raised a total of $3.2 million in private donations for it’s $4 million minimum needed for the permanent site, with an additional $1 million earmarked for a wish list.