The sparks didn’t fly as much as the last number of weeks, but Timmins city council’s hot button item Monday night included some fireworks…literal fireworks.

Mayor Steve Black made the proposal to spend $3.545 million dollars to host an eight day festival leading up to Canada Day 2017.

He says this festival would be an International Fireworks Competition, where eight countries are highlighted.

But with the cost and structure, Black says adding concerts throughout made sense to draw people from out of town to watch more than just a 20 minute fireworks display.

Critics are already questioning the potential risks of the endeavour.  Two of them were sitting around the council table in Councillors Joe Campbell and Rick Dubeau.

Campbell says they could scale back to the single day, and still have an event that puts the city on the map.

Nonetheless, Campbell and Dubeau were the only ones to vote against the motion and it was approved.

The city would offer single day passes, ranging in price depending on the musical act.  An eight day pass would be $200.

Black says the musical acts will also range from country, to 80’s rock, pop and much more (with some bands having local ties).

He remains confident they’ll be able to break even, saying 15,000 ticket sales for the final day alone would be enough.  Black adds the proposed headliner—who could be named in the coming weeks—would have that amount of drawing power.

CLICK HERE to see the full presentation, that breaks down some of the days and the cost breakdown.

CLICK HERE for video of the presentation, under section 5A, and CLICK HERE to see the final vote, under section 2F.

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