Federal election a ‘setback’ for convention centre
Posted Apr 20, 2011 05:52:40 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The provincial infrastructure minister says the federal election has seriously impaired plans to build a new convention centre in downtown Halifax.
Developer Joe Ramia says he’s sent his original cost estimates for the $159 million project for re-evaluation, now that two deadlines for signing a contract have come and gone.
Both the city and province have committed to funding the convention centre, but there’s been no commitment from Ottawa. A deal wasn’t struck in time for a January 15th deadline, and there will be no funding commitments made during the federal election – meaning a deadline on April 15th also lapsed without a contract in place.
Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks says Ramia has been professional and patient – and there’s still an excellent business case for the project.
He tells the Rick Howe Show the the federal election has interfered with the process.
“I still have yet to hear whether the feds are going to be on board with it or not,” he said. “In the meantime, Mr. Ramia’s a businessman and he’s looking at the bottom line, reviewing the speculation and of course I’ll have to take that through to the cabinet.
Mayor Peter Kelly says the city remains committed to spending $58 million on the convention centre and says talk of possible price hikes is worrying.
“I would hope that the province would have that dialogue and that discussion with the proponent and with the federal government to try and keep the cost in play as it was proposed,” he said.
Estabrooks says he’s ready to go to Ottawa as early as May 3 or play host to whoever Chuck Strahl’s successor may be.
