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CN Tower for Sale?
Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty discussed selling off government-owned assets to bolster the declining Canadian economy. This could include the CN Tower, which is the only (and I mean the only) city landmark that any (and I mean any) of my non-Canadian friends or family members can recognize. Located down on Front Street, the CN Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in the world.
Flaherty declined to say which assets are on the block, but said such a sale is "one way of reducing a deficit or perhaps having a small surplus."
He raised the example of the CN Tower, which was completed at a cost of $63 million in 1975. It is federally owned and managed by Canada Lands Company, a Crown corporation.
"I won't get into some of the things that Canadians own," Flaherty said at a news conference at the Conservative party's national policy convention. "But they'd be very surprised to know that they own things like the CN Tower. It's a surprise to most Canadians that that's an asset of the government of Canada."
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (20)
at 12:50 on November 14th, 2008
Selling the tower is fine, but they should keep the naming rights. Let's not get into the same situation as hockey arenas, with the name changing every few years.
Brad Saunders has contributed a photo to this story.
at 10:43 on November 14th, 2008
New York buildings and businesses are mostly foreign owned so this should be no surprise. Thanks for sharing this story, perhaps we can change this outcome somehow?
at 10:46 on November 14th, 2008
Should they sell the CN Tower ???
louisloic has contributed a photo to this story.
at 12:17 on November 14th, 2008
No they shouldn't. I have actually found a website that sells protest pins and t-shirts.
http://www.zazzle.com/cn_tower_is_canadian_button-145896234888797190
I got a bunch of pins that me and my friends will wear in protest to this.
at 12:43 on November 14th, 2008
The CN tower is an amazing structure. I recently saw the Empire State, in comparison you realise how much land there is in Toronto and appreciate Toronto's surrounding. It s atructure that defines the place and is one of the key tourist attractions specific to the location. Selling the CN tower will strip Toronto of ifs few landmarks .
crysta_d has contributed a photo to this story.
at 14:18 on November 14th, 2008
I think they should not sell this fantastic structure
at 15:54 on November 14th, 2008
Firstly, the CN Tower is no longer the tallest in the world. It was surpassed by in 2007 by the Burj Dubai. It is, however, still the tallest in the Americas.
Secondly, it is probably a surprise to most Canadians that the tower belongs to the government because they probably don't realize that, before Canadian National was privatized in the mid 1990s, it divested itself of the tower, turning it over to the Canada Lands company.
In my mind, CN has always stood for Canadian National, even if they still have no actually connection with the tower any longer. I see nothing wrong with selling it. But then, I'm a capitalist at heart.
at 16:04 on November 14th, 2008
Hi,
i think that this and the other photos i shared are the demonstration of the "sovereign" of the tower on Toronto.
Infact i take this photo from Casa Loma, and the other from The Distillery district.
Two area very far that confirms that the tower is visible from every part of the city.
I have other photo from other area,and will share in the next days.
Thanks.
john irving has contributed a photo to this story.
at 18:26 on November 14th, 2008
I don't have a real problem with selling the CN tower, I see famous spaces being sold and renamed all the time. While it does lend a sense of impermanence to a place (anybody remember when there was a place called "The O'Keefe Center"?) I also concede that cities need to evolve.
I *do* take issue with the statement that the CN tower is Toronto's only landmark. City Hall is a unique landmark, you just can't see it from 20 miles away. I think arguments can be made for the Ontario Place Geodesic dome, "The Dome" sports facility and The Eaton Center which are all eminently recognizable and discernably "Toronto". Heck, even the new Louvre-like ROM building is certainly unique and will eventually become associated with that fair city...
at 19:52 on November 15th, 2008
I never minded having the Tower in government hands so long as it was kept up and made accessible to the public. By the same token, maybe privatizing it again will breathe new life into it. Just so long as it's kept in Canadian corporate hands. Let's not go selling our internationally recognized entities to foreign interests.
I also agree that the Tower isn't the only landmark that our foreign friends might recognize. Certainly the City Hall has been well represented. Heck, it even made it into a montage of images on a Star Trek episode (just injecting a touch of geekism). In fact, I'd say our most recognized landmark is the TD Centre. I've lost count of how many films have used those buildings to represent some anonymous city's downtown core.
at 22:16 on November 15th, 2008
Now they have something to sell.What happen afterwards.Say one year from now Canad agian face eco problem.And would they try to sell Canada?
Tiash
at 15:14 on November 19th, 2008
Ummm, surprising to who? I thought everyone knew the CN Tower was a government asset. Selling it off to relieve some debt... hilarious. This is what we elect these folks for, clever solutioning to difficult problems. Or not.
at 17:08 on November 20th, 2008
the CN Tower being 553.3 m (1,815 ft) lost it's Title as the tallest free standing structure in the world September 12, 2007 to the Burj Dubai has reached 707 m (2,320 ft) in height on September 26, 2008, and that building is not complete yet, also KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota, USA, which is still the tallest completed structure at 628.8 m (2,063 ft).
at 19:46 on November 20th, 2008
I can't say that I'm surprised they're selling it. And really, what difference will it make? It's already got a corporate name, and Canadians and foreigners alike have to shell out big money to gain access.
Presumably, if the government is considering selling it, it's not a revenue generator, and is more than likely running at a deficit. If a corporation can keep it open and reduce the drain on taxpayers, I'm fully in favour.
All that being said, I really enjoy seeing it everyday.
Skulk.ca has contributed a photo to this story.
at 01:34 on November 21st, 2008
I'm not from Canada but took this photo back in 2005 while visiting Toronto. It seems a shame to sell off such an iconic structure and a symbol of Toronto.
Mark-Devine has contributed a photo to this story.
at 22:32 on November 22nd, 2008
It is one of a number of Crown Corporations in Canada. According to Wikipedia, both Petro-Canada and Air Canada were once crown corporations. Selling them hasn't changed the way they operate. Selling the CN Tower during this economic downturn may not be the best idea, however if it is sold in the future it will just mean a name change, it will still be there.
at 08:42 on November 23rd, 2008
I am a little surprised and late to find out as well.
at 10:07 on November 23rd, 2008
My 5 year old son and I were on our way to see the airshow and to have some fun at the CNE this summer when I looked across the tracks and couldn't resist taking this shot.
hark has contributed a photo to this story.
at 08:05 on November 30th, 2008
yeah man go ahead my blessings are with u
at 11:56 on December 8th, 2008
he is a f************** a************* ever in canada