Provincial cash isn't confirmed for proposed Moncton centre

Premier Brian Gallant isn't saying whether his government will follow through on funding for Moncton's proposed downtown sports and entertainment centre that was promised in the final days of the Alward government.

The legislature will open on Wednesday with a throne speech and then Gallant's government will unveil a capital budget for 2015 in the coming days.

The previous Progressive Conservative government of David Alward promised up to $24 million to help pay for Moncton's downtown project.

But Gallant said in an interview on Tuesday it must meet the same criteria as any other proposal, such as safety and value for money.

"If this project fits within some of those criteria, well then there's a better chance that it goes forward,” Gallant said.

“We're not simply going to continue a project because expectations were given by the previous government for the wrong reasons.”

The Tories announced their funding for the downtown Moncton centre on the day before the provincial election campaign began in August.

Gallant said it was clearly a politically motivated decision that hadn't been properly assessed.

The estimated cost of the project is $107 million.

Two companies have submitted bids to build the proposed downtown sports and entertainment complex.

Moncton city council voted in March to build the 7,500-seat sports and entertainment complex on the former Highfield Square mall site. The city has already spent millions buying the land for the project. 

Moncton is still looking to tap into federal funds for the project.

The city manager said in September he was looking to use an indirect way to get federal funds to pay for part of the project.

Moncton's chief financial officer warned councillors this week about the financial pressures facing the city.

John Martin said councillors would find it was difficult to balance the 2015 budget.