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After a lengthy session this afternoon Council voted unanimously to cease negotiation with Daryl Katz on a new downtown arena. For those who have supported the deal this is a major blow but the message from Council today was clear, they do not see any reason for the additional subsidies that Daryl Katz is requesting. $6M annually is a significant gap to try and close so for now it appears that the deal is very much dead and the Oilers future in Edmonton will not be a great topic of debate.
Councillor Don Iveson tweeted a statement from Mayor Mandel this afternoon that probably best sums up Council is feeling right now.
@mayormandel said at #yegcc 'We are a city that really values the game NHL hockey. I think it's wrong to hold us up for ransom.' #yegarena
— don iveson (@doniveson) October 17, 2012
Well said Mr. Mayor.