Local MPs split on Convention Center proposal
Posted Dec 15, 2010 05:55:50 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Debate over the proposed new Convention Center in Halifax has moved into political circles, as HRM’s MPs wrangle over whether or not the federal government should agree to funding.
The city and province have reached a cost-sharing deal of $56.2 million each to fund the project, and all that’s needed now is $47 million from the federal government to top off the $149 million price tag.
However, it seems area MP’s are divided on whether it’s a good investment.
Halifax MP Megan Leslie thinks public consultation is needed before the federal government agrees to provide any money. Leslie says she’s spent lot of time discussing the idea with her constituents.
“Over and over and over, people say to me, ‘well, at the very least we feel that we should be able to have a say in how this is being done’,” says Leslie who is writing a letter to the Prime Minister to express these concerns.
“I think it is fair for the federal government to say, ‘look we are going to fund this because the province and the municipality think this is a good investment’. But, there should be some strings attached. And those strings could be public consultation.”
One MP who is on board with the proposal is Sackville-Eastern Shore New Democrat, Peter Stoffer. He thinks it will be a great investment for the entire municipality.
“I think it would be an exciting development because it could spur other development, not just throughout Halifax but throughout HRM and surrounding areas”, Stoffer says. “It could be a very good thing for the city in the future.”
January 14th is the deadline for all money to be in place in order to go ahead with the building.
