City Council has been asked to support a $440,000 grant for the post production facility at Canadore College.

Council has sent the recommendation to committee for further discussion.

The request is being made to cover off increased costs for the project of between 15-20 per cent.

North Bay Mayor Al McDonald says the facility is already playing a key role in the city’s economy.

“We’re having great luck with the film industry in our community with lots of films being done and more are being scheduled. We want to keep our young people in the community. This is an opportunity to train them in an emerging industry,” he says.

McDonald says the facility will create 26 jobs in the next 3 years.

A city resident Gary Gardiner presented to council last night.

“I don’t think that’s wise use of our money and if they are going to make money then they can easily carry any kind of deficit they have right now, they shouldn’t have any problem,” he says.

Gardiner also says the request should have been made in the fall.

“Everybody knows, including Canadore, that at the beginning of the fall if you’re going to apply for money you should do it then. That way they can compare and contrast all the applications and decide where the money should go,” he says.

McDonald likes Gardiner’s suggestion of Invest North Bay looking at the business case of supporting the request.

One city councillor Mark King already has made his mind up on the proposal.

“There’s no way. I don’t care what the indication is I won’t be supporting that process at all,” he says.