North Bay City Council has approved a $50 Million budget to develop the new West Ferris Community Centre. This after originally aiming for a $30 Million cap with a strong reliance of a $20 Million contribution from the Government. The assistance was declined by the Government and now the project budget has grown to $50 Million which will result in the increase in local taxes and financially impacting the community further. This while we face a pandemic that has had a heavy financial toll on a number of small businesses and households in our community. Our City is also facing rising numbers in homelessness, addictions and mental health crises. Instead of allocating this budget to a new Community Centre that will be of use to those that want it in a few years when complete we should be allocating this budget to those that need it now.