Dear editor:

According to a recent poll released by Mental Health Research Canada, 51 per cent of Canadians said inflation was having a negative impact on their mental health; 24 per cent have gone into debt because of inflation; 23 per cent are having difficulty making their rent or mortgage payments; and 37 per cent are struggling to feed themselves or their families.

In the midst of this dire financial climate, we have a group in Niagara-on-the-Lake advocating for a new indoor pool facility.

I truly believe this group needs a reality check.

According to a town study in 2018, a new indoor pool could cost $6 million to $12 million, excluding annual maintenance costs.

The reconstruction costs for our existing St. David’ pool were apparently estimated at $5 million in 2020 and this year our residential property taxes increased about 8 per cent.

Using the example of Saugeen Shores, this group is also suggesting that this pool may not affect our local taxes and could be financed by using development charges and a legacy reserve fund.

They must be dreaming in technicolour.

However, the most outrageous and disturbing comment from one of the committee members sums up their position: “Cost be damned, I’d like to see a pool before we’re dead.”

If that is truly their attitude, this group could finance this pool facility with their own resources.

Buddy Andres
NOTL