Province and HRM Sign Memorandum of Understanding on New Downtown Convention Centre

A new convention centre could be coming to Halifax in less than four years.

Premier Rodney MacDonald and Mayor Peter Kelly today, May 4, signed a memorandum of understanding committing the province and the municipality to work together in an effort to have a new convention centre up and running by Jan. 1, 2013.

"Conventions and major events have been an economic driver, creating jobs all over the province," said Premier MacDonald. "Many provinces, including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick, have expanded their convention centres or are building new ones. Nova Scotia needs to stay competitive, to bring the conventions here, and to keep the jobs and benefits in this province, instead of going elsewhere."

A recent study conducted by the firm Criterion found that between June 1, 2007 and February 28, 2009, at least 60 international conferences decided not to come to Nova Scotia because the 25-year-old facilities at Halifax's World Trade and Convention Centre were deemed insufficient. This represented a loss of 45,855 delegates, 86,865 room nights and an estimated $65 million in overall economic impact.

"Halifax Regional Municipality is a proud partner with the province in leading this process to a successful conclusion," said Mayor Kelly. "By signing this memorandum of understanding we are sending a clear message to our local businesses and to the world that we are open for business and will do what it takes to have a new convention centre built in Halifax. This project will help make our downtown and our municipality an even more attractive place to live, work and play."

In February, the provincial and municipal governments announced that Rank Group was selected as the preferred private sector supplier through an open expression of interest process to build a new convention centre of about 150,000 square feet. As a next step, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has hired Deloitte to prepare a detailed, independent cost estimate and business plan that will form the basis of a formal funding application to the government of Canada.

Following the completion of this work and approval of the project's funding partners, the Rank Group will be invited to submit a formal proposal to develop the new facility. It is expected that a report and recommendations regarding the award of a construction contract will be submitted to both governments for a decision by the fall.

"Almost four years ago, the Halifax Economic Strategy identified convention infrastructure as an emerging need," said Fred Morley, executive vice-president and chief economist of the Greater Halifax Partnership. "With today's commitment to work towards the development of a new convention centre by Premier MacDonald and Mayor Kelly, it's time that everyone comes together to ensure it is built right, on time and on schedule."

"The addition of a new convention centre to Halifax will be one of the most significant tourism investments in decades," said Darlene Grant Fiander, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS). "It will allow Nova Scotia to compete for lucrative events and conferences which will have a tremendous economic impact throughout the province. TIANS applauds the premier and mayor for making a clear commitment to investing in our province as a destination of choice."

Since 1984, conference visitors to Halifax have injected more than $2.2 billion in direct spending, generating 42,600 years of employment and $97 million in tax revenues to support municipal and provincial programs.