Convention centre details due next week

Nova Scotians will see the bid details for a new Halifax convention centre early next week, Premier Darrell Dexter said Thursday.

Dexter said the plan to make the information public had nothing to do with one of his caucus members unofficially releasing the estimated costsearlier this week.

"This has no relation to this whatsoever," Dexter told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

"Here we are, now, saying that we will before any decision is made release the bid details. This is, I would hope, that Nova Scotians would see this as the model of transparency."

Earlier this week, news broke that New Democrat backbencher Howard Epstein the MLA for Halifax Chebucto revealed that caucus members had been told theconvention centre would cost $160 million.

Halifax taxpayers would be billed $57 million, the province$57 million and the federal government$46 million.

The revelation caused a stir, with Epstein apologizing for the confidentiality breach and the NDP caucus privately debating his political future. The caucusdecided not to discipline Epstein.

Proposal submitted in July

The developer behind the project the Rank Group submitted its proposal to the government in July.

On Wednesday, Dexter had said cabinet members were still waiting on "technical information" before making a decision about the convention centre. He added that "there will be a time and a place" to releasedetailsto the public.

On Thursday, Dexter said he was "now in a position" torelease thedetails.

"It includes what the calculated bid shares would be," the premier told reporters. "In the end, whether that would be what would happen, would of course depend on negotiations."

Supporters for the planned convention centre, hotel complex and officer tower say new development is needed and will revitalize downtown Halifax. Opponents say it is a waste of money and will block the view of Halifax harbour.

Phil Pacey, president of the Heritage Trust, said he doubts the release of the bid information next week will sway his decision to oppose the project.

"We don't feel that there is likely to be anything within the information that will be made public next week that would change minds of people and the public," he said.