Convention centre won't jeopardize roads: minister

Nova Scotia's minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal is defending the province's decision to try to use $47 million from a federal infrastructure fund to finance a convention centre in Halifax.

The province has applied with federal Transport Minister Chuck Strahl to redirect a part of the Building Canada fund dedicated to Nova Scotia.

While the fund is usually used to repair roads and bridges, the province wants to use $47 million of that money as the federal contribution to the proposed $159-million convention centre.

On Thursday, Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks tried to calm fears that road construction in the province would not be sacrificed. He admitted that redirecting the money could mean less money for roads in the future, but said the province's five-year road-building strategy would not be impacted.

"I understand the connection between the two," he told reporters.

"There's suitable enough funds that we've set aside that our five-year road plan is not going to be affected during the next year and in forthcoming years."

Estabrooks said the Building Canada fund can be used for more than road projects, citing $10 million used for the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre in Truro and the Mainland Common Centre in Clayton Park.

"There are dollars available from the fund that can be used in addition to roads and that's why we've gone down the road of writing this letter to Mr. Strahl saying, 'This is an option for you to consider,'" he said.

The convention centre deal depends on the federal government contributing $47 million. That money has not been committed yet.

The city and province have already agreed to put in $56 million each toward the convention centre, which would be built on the former Halifax Herald Ltd. site. The centre would be ready in January 2015.

"Let me assure the people who are probably petitioning me and calling my offices in Timberlea or here in downtown Halifax. In no way does this jeopardize the five-year road plan. Absolutely no way," said Estabrooks.

"Roads are not going to take second place because of the downtown Halifax convention centre."

Nova Scotia's federal cabinet minister Peter MacKay refused to be drawn into the debate over infrastructure funding.

"We, the federal government, haven't made a decision as yet, but Mr. Estabrooks seems to have an opinion on that. I have an opinion, for sure, but I think I'll keep my opinion to myself at this point. We're going to get all the information from the province and from the participants in the project," he said.

"What I can tell you is that there is money obviously earmarked for road projects, highway projects, and there is other pools of funding that might be available for projects such as the convention centre."

Through the Building Canada plan, Nova Scotia will receive $175 million in base funding for infrastructure projects. Approximately $122.6 million has already been committed.