An issue Halifax City Council tried to settle in private is going public, after a councillor filed a motion to reconsider Molson Coors' sponsorship offer for the skating oval.

The beer company offered up $400,000 in support of the project, in exchange of naming rights, but council voted against the proposal two weeks ago in a private meeting.

When news of the decision spread, public pressure grew for full disclosure. Coun. Gloria McCluskey remains opposed to the deal with Molson Coors, but she admits positions could change.

"It will depend on how much pressure some councillors can take," says McCluskey, councillor for Dartmouth Centre. "Those councillors who voted against the motion, we've all been pressured."

For some, re-visiting the issue is a matter of principle. But Coun. Sue Uteck says she hopes the debate will re-open for more practical reasons.

"What I'd like to do is send it back to look at the timeline that Molson Coors wants the signage for and the amount of money that they're willing to offer," says the Northwest Arm – South End councillor. "I think it's a very good deal for them and a so-so deal for the municipalities."

While the councillors may disagree about the beer company sponsorship – the offer was rejected by one vote – they do seem to agree that discussions about it should be held in the open and not behind closed doors.

That includes Coun. Dawn Sloane, who also believes the arguments about beer sponsorship are a distraction from the real issues surrounding alcohol abuse.

"It takes a village to raise a child," says Sloane, councillor for Halifax Downtown. "That means that we, as a municipality should be talking about those things as well and helping to educate our youth."

Meanwhile, members of the Save the Oval Association have asked their supporters to put pressure on councillors to reconsider the offer from Molson Coors.

Member Joachim Stroink was disappointed in the council's rejection of the offer, especially since the Molson Coors signs would only be on the plaza around the Oval, and not on the Oval itself.

"It was the site around the Oval and I think there was a little bit of disconnect there within the community of where Molson was going to actually sit within the whole sponsorship agreement," says Stroink.

Despite public pressure, there is still no guarantee the debate will take place. A two-thirds majority of the councillors will have to vote to re-open the issue. If that doesn't happen, the matter is closed.

The Oval is due to open later this month.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ron Shaw