The Sixth Estate

The City of Ottawa, Brought to You By Pepsi

Ottawa has a new and insane solution to the wholly bogus, manufactured spending crisis faced by the city: it’s going to sell naming rights to municipal buildings. It sounds like they are really only talking about the recreational facilities. Apparently even Ottawa’s city council is not deluded enough to think some hapless multinational wants their name associated with City Hall. They will sell exclusive drink rights, event sponsorships, etc., though.

What really irritates me, though, is the pathetic explanation offered by Councilor Mark Taylor: “There was a time when the tax base could support everything that folks were looking for… That day has come and gone.”

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