Halifax convention centre won't hurt P.E.I.: Shea

P.E.I.'s federal cabinet minister says she doesn't think the new convention centre in Halifax will hurt business on the Island.

The federal government announced Monday it will contribute $51.4 million — about $4 million more than what was originally expected — for the new 306,000 square foot facility in downtown Halifax.

Meanwhile, P.E.I. officially broke ground Friday on a new $17.5 million convention centre on the Charlottetown waterfront.

And Gail Shea isn't worried about the competition from Halifax.

"There would have to be good marketing, of course, with any convention centre," Shea said. "So that will be up to the folks whose job it is to do the marketing. But it will be good exposure for Atlantic Canada no matter how you see it.'

Conventions and meetings make up a siginificant portion of tourism on P.E.I. In 2009, they brought in $20 million to the economy.

Last year, that number went down to $15 million. This year's numbers are projected to be ahead of 2010.

The nearly $17-million price tag of Charlottetown's 36,000-square-foot complex will be cost-shared by the federal and provincial governments and is expected to be completed by March 2013.