The deadline for people to voice their opposition to the Alternative Approval Process that was seeking approval to borrow up to $275 million for the Build Kamloops initiative has passed.

People had until 4 p.m. today, Sept. 13, to hand in their forms if they were opposed to the process that began on July 30.

It is being used to approve borrow up to $140 million to finance construction of the Performing Arts Centre downtown and up to $135 million for a four-plex ice facility in Dufferin and future Build Kamloops initiatives.

Build Kamloops Committee Chair Mike O’Reilly says the results are expected to be made available in a little over a week’s time.

“We are expecting that council meeting on September 24 is when we will hear the numbers,” O’Reilly said, noting City Council will likely find out what the result is at the same time as everyone else.

“It’s not a process that we wanted to rush and put extra pressure on staff to do this as we want a proper job, an accurate job. That is why we went to them and asked how much time do you feel you will need.”

A total of 10 per cent of the electorate in Kamloops, or 8,713 people, were required to submit their opposition to the process for it to then be put to a full referendum.

“If, by the deadline, 10 per cent or more of the total number of estimated eligible electors sign and submit response forms, local governments cannot proceed with the proposed matter without first holding an assent vote (i.e. referendum),” a City statement said.

If there aren’t enough forms submitted, the City will be able to proceed with the borrowing as outlined previously.

“The City is able to borrow against the long-term debt as needed, and does not need to borrow the entire amount up front,” a statement from the City said. “This means we can continue to build our debt servicing capacity while we build the facilities, and not have to borrow $275 million all at once.”

O’Reilly told Radio NL it will be up to City Council to decide next steps if borrowing for one of the two projects is approved and the other is not.

“That is something that council will give committee direction and then committee will have to work on that,” he said. “What I do know is as an example, if the multiplex of ice was to fail that doesn’t remove the fact that we are significantly short on ice in Kamloops. If the Performing Arts Centre was to fail, that doesn’t change the face that we haven’t had new performance space for students to go in since 1976.”

“The problem is still there. It’s trying to come up with a solution and bring that forward in a different way.”

The City has previously said that barring any significant setbacks, construction on the Centre for the Arts could begin next year, with construction on the multiplex following suit in 2026. If that happens, both facilities are expected to be open by the end of this decade.

The Build Kamloops initiative also includes a new leisure pool on the North Shore, a large curling club facility to accommodate the consolidation of the two curling clubs, new indoor field space, and a new all-ages community centre.

It may also include housing in some of those facilities, if it is found to be feasible.

The initiative also includes a trio of smaller projects – a new seniors community centre in North Kamloops that opened this week, a renovated indoor soccer dome, and new daycare spaces near McDonald Park.

You can find more about Build Kamloops, including the scope of the selected projects, here.