MP Robert Goguen says Moncton downtown centre 'critical'

Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe Conservative MP Robert Goguen says a $107-milliondowntown sports andentertainment centre in Monctonis "critical" for the future of the city and for the province of New Brunswick.

"Let's state theobvious," Goguen said during an interview with Information Morning Monctonon Tuesday.

"Theeconomicengine of the province of New Brunswick is greater Moncton. We need this project."

Goguen's comments come days after Premier Brian Gallant published an editorial about the future of a downtown centre.

Theball is in their court.- Conservative MP Robert Goguen

Gallant said his provincialgovernment would not be rushed into a decision on funding the projectand accused Goguen and the federal Conservatives of making "ambiguous, sometimes even contradictory statements" about what the federal commitment to the project will be.

Provincial Finance Minister Roger Melansonsaidno decision will be made on funding until there is a policy for funding such large-scale centres.

"When you, as agovernment, consider making some big investments, like this one andpotentiallyothers, around the province you need to be consistent, you need to have a provincial policy in place where things are well thought out andthere'sa solid return on investment and to see some strong job creation," Melanson said.

Like Gallant, Melanson also accused Goguen of being unclear in his promises of federal money.

"We know that the federal MP here sayspubliclythat he's on board, but we haven't seen the money," said Melanson.

Goguen calledthat"laughable" and saidit's the provincial government that isn't being transparent about its intentions.

"The players on the power playthe premier, [Health Minister]VictorBoudreau, RogerMelanson, and, of course, MP DominicLeBlancdo not livein theMonctonarea, they're notMonctonriding representatives so they're going to probably try to put investments where it will further their political possibilities," Goguensaid.

"It's not very complicated."

Gallant represents the ridingof ShediacBay-Dieppe,Boudreaurepresents Shediac-Beaubassin-Cap-Pel and Melansonrepresents Dieppe. LeBlanc is the MP for Beausjour, which borders on Goguen's riding.

Just before the 2014 provincial election, the former Alward government announce provincial support for the $107-million sports and entertainment centre.

There is a federal election looming on Oct. 19.

Provincial government stalling project

Goguen says he will continue to push for the downtown centre, which he believes will provide a solid return on investment for New Brunswick.

"I can just keep pushing and certainly we're there for this project," he said.

He calledthe editorial by Gallant an attempt to deflect attention from the provincial government's failure to provide funding in a timely fashionand saidthe Gallant government is also preventing federal money from flowing to the city.

"They continue throwing up roadblocks for this project while they know that the timing is critical, it's getting to the point that it's either going to cost more money to build the project or it's going to fail," Goguen said.

He saidit is no secret that Ottawa is willing to fund infrastructure projects in Moncton that would have otherwise been paid for by the city as a way of directing money to the downtown centre.

However,he saidthose applications arebeing held up by the provincial government.

"The way the infrastructure program worksthe province submits the projectthey advance the project, we consent to the project and once those projects have been signed off by the provincial and the federal government the monies become available," he said.

Goguen saidthe federal government is committed to finding the $23.5 million in funding that is needed for the project to go ahead.

"Theball is in their court," he said.