Province awaits Halifax convention centre details

Plans for a new convention centre for downtown Halifax are moving along, though the project could be scuttled if the building is too high or pricey.

The Nova Scotia government, in partnership with the Halifax Regional Municipality, announced Thursday that it has asked a developer to submit a detailed proposal by February.

The Rank Group's design and financing plan will be reviewed before any final approval is given.

Bill Estabrooks, minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal, said the province is eager for a new, larger centre but is leaving the door open to reject any plan that obstructs the view from Citadel Hill.

"We have off-ramps, as they say in the highway business," he said. "Very clearly we're not interested in messing with the view planes."

Estabrooks said the project could also be terminated if it costs too much. However, he won't say how much the province is ready to spend.

A new convention centre — slated for Argyle Street — is estimated to cost as much as $300 million.

The two levels of government signed an agreement in May to work together to get Nova Centre up by 2013. Officials said the 25-year-old facilities at the World Trade and Convention Centre aren't suitable for larger conferences.