Moncton says federal funds still needed for downtown centre

Moncton-Dieppe-RiverviewConservative MP Robert Goguen announced on Thursday that Ottawa hascome through withfunding that could go towards a proposed downtown event centre but it's unclear whether the City of Moncton will use the cash for that project.

Moncton will receive $4.9 million every year for the next 10 years in a federal gas tax rebate.

"Initially they asked us for $24 million for the metro centre and if you do the math, it's beyond that so we're not going to dictate their priorities," Goguensaid.

Goguen says the money is intended for infrastructure projects but otherwise how it is spent is up to MayorGeorgeLeBlanc and his council.

"Where is the money best used? They're close to the ground their call."

LeBlancsays in the past money from the federal gas tax rebate has gone to pay for roads, water and sewer lines and transit buses and he's not convinced there will be anything left for the downtown event centre.

"I'mnot sure whether we can squeeze some of this money towards the downtown centre but Iwould certainly be willing to give it the old college try," LeBlanc said.

City still needsfunding

LeBlanc says the city needs $24 million from both the federal and provincialgovernments.

"I cannot see this project proceeding without appropriate funding from the federal andprovincial governments so obviously we have to work hard with the federal government to find other alternatives for funding opportunities for the downtown centre," said LeBlanc.

Goguen says he will help with the effort although he is not aware of any other available federal funding programs.

Downtown Moncton Inc. has committed $2.5 million towards the project.

In October Moncton's city manager, Jacques Dub, said finding money for the $112million project hadbeen challenging but he was still hopeful the federal government would come through.

"There's going to have to be a clever, ingenious way to allow the federal government to come into the project to allow the city to move ahead."

Dub suggested thefederal government might pay a larger share of capital projects such as sewer installation or community centre projects, which would allow Moncton to put the money it would have otherwise spent on those projects toward the downtown centre.

"We're going to have to play what I call a bit of a shell game with the federal government to allow them to fund items that the city would be budgeting in other areas of the city, for example, in order to free up cash for the downtown centre."

The latest hurdle for the city in realizing the downtown event centre is that the owner of the old Highfield Square property no longer wants to sell the land.

The city is planning to pursue expropriation ofthe land but some councillors worry that will lead to a higher price tag.