Stephen Harper, Rob Moore 'on board' with Moncton centre funding

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Minister Rob Moore are both on board with a plan to use nearly $23.5 million in infrastructure funds to indirectly fund a portion of the $107-million sports and entertainment complex in Moncton, according to the local Tory MP.

Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Robert Goguen said on Wednesday the provincial government is the last hurdle to overcome before the federal government agrees to find $23.5 million in funds for the downtown sports complex.

When asked whether the prime minister and ACOA minister approved of this indirect funding agreement, Goguen was unequivocal.

"Listen, I speak to both of them regularly and they are on board," he said.

"The test finally is, look, will we have the full $23.5 [million]? The infrastructure programs will fund the projects that the city has submitted and with the approval of the province, it will give us the major part of the funding. Then the trick is to find other sources of funds to come as close as we possibly can to get the $23.5 [million]."

Moore, however, seemed less clear about his commitment to the downtown project in an emailed statement to CBC News late Wednesday afternoon.

"Our government remains committed to working with the City of Moncton on a number of important infrastructure priorities that the city has put forward under our Building Canada Fund and through ACOA," he said, without specifically mentioning the downtown centre or detailing funding level.

It is unclear what infrastructure funding envelope these projects would come from, or where any additional money would come from to hit $23.5 million.

Goguen said he asked Moncton officials for a list of projects that the city wants to fund and is responsible for, such as water and sewer, public transit or street widening.

He said the provincial government must approve the projects before the federal government can hand over any cash.

No need for deal in writing

The Conservative MP said the deal is not in writing, but it doesn't need to be at this point.

"It's really not necessary until the provincial government approves these projects because that is the test," he said.

"The city submitted the projects, they have to be approved by the province who sets the priorities. Once they agree to the priorities, we sign off and then we deliver the cheque."

Moncton wants to build a $107-million sports and entertainment centre on the downtown parcel of land where the old Highfield Square mall once stood.

The former Alward government committed funds to the project just before the 2014 election.

However, the Gallant government is in the process of reviewing the funding proposal before handing over $24 million in provincial tax dollars to the project.

Goguen would not say how long the offer from the federal government is on the table. There is a federal election looming in October.

The Tory MP for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe said he wants to see the downtown centre constructed.

He also said the other projects, which could be funded through the federal infrastructure program, are important.