Estabrooks undecided on convention centre

Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks says he hasn't picked a side yet in the dispute over a new convention centre for downtown Halifax.

The new $300-million development, which includes a hotel complex, is slated for Argyle Street.

"It's inevitably the question: Are we going to get a good bang for our buck? I continue to get all kinds of comments from either side," Estabrooks said Thursday.

The Hotel Association of Nova Scotia supports the development, saying the city has lost 70 conferences over the years because the World Trade and Convention Centre is too small.

The Coalition to Save the View from Citadel Hill, however, claims that attendance has been falling at Canadian convention centres despite the addition of exhibit space.

Estabrooks said financing is another key issue to consider, since the federal government has yet to commit any money to the project. He said negotiations continue with Keith Ashfield, minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

It's unclear how much the province will contribute to the project. The developer, Rank Group, is spending millions for a hotel and office tower as part of the complex.

Estabrooks has to decide whether to recommend that cabinet approve the public-private development.

"Based on my own experience with P3 developments, I still have in some situations huge reservations. If we proceed with the arrangement as it's being recommended at this stage, it will be done in a lot more thorough manner," he said.

Estabrooks expects to make a recommendation to cabinet on April 19.