The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre has cleared a big hurdle. 

Winnipeg city council voted 11-3 today to sell the land currently occupied by the vacant Vimy Arena to the province for $1. The province plans to flip the property to make way for the 50-bed long-term drug addictions treatment centre. 

The centre is named after national broadcaster Scott Oake's son, who died of a heroin overdose in 2011. 

The issue became a contentious one in the St. Charles area, with residents and politicians speaking passionately both for and against it. Many opponents believe the old rink - which has been closed since 2013 - should have been repurposed as a recreation facility. They also believe there wasn't enough public consultation. 

Many opponents believe there will be a loss in green space as well, but Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) says that won't be the case, as the treatment centre will have the same foot print as the current arena. 

Area Coun. Shawn Dobson (St. Charles) was one of three councillors who voted against the sale. 

He was joined by Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) and Coun. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan.)

All three argued selling the land for $1 is not fiscally responsible, as the land was valued at $1.4 million in a recent report.

Dobson's motion delay to put off a vote on the sale for 60 days to give city staff time to do another asset review of the property was defeated. 

Coun. Scott Gillingham's (St. James-Brooklands-Weston) motion to budget $1.4 million in 2019 to be used for recreation in the St. Charles ward passed. A portion of that $1.4 million will be used for public consultation. 

The land transfer still has to jump a few more hurdles before construction can begin, including zoning approval and environmental assessments.