Mayor Brian Bowman now shows support for True North Square proposal

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman has done an about-face on True North Square, a proposal for a multimillion-dollar downtown development that would include a hotel.

The mayor had previously suggested the deal between True North Sports and Entertainment Ltd. — the company that owns the Winnipeg Jets NHL franchise — and CentreVenture Development Corp. lacked transparency.

But at Wednesday's executive policy committee meeting, Bowman said he supports the True North Square proposal.

"If we're talking about a $400-million development in downtown Winnipeg, we should all be supportive of seeing such a sizable development happen in our downtown," he said.

True North chairman Mark Chipman lashed out at Bowman last month over the mayor's remarks about the option agreement between the company and CentreVenture, an arm's-length agency of the city.

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The agreement centres on a parcel of land on 220 Carlton St. near the RBC Convention Centre, which is undergoing an expansion.

Bowman said he met with officials with CentreVenture and the RBC Convention Centre last week to determine how a $33-million loan from the city to the convention centre will be repaid.

"Provided the convention centre and its business plans and the repayment of the $33 million can be secured, obviously we'd be looking very favourably for such a development," he said.

The mayor said he also wants to work out who will pay for the skywalks connecting the proposed True North complex with the rest of downtown.