[Moncton] Centre Avenir Centre | 26.65m |~6 Fl | Completed

[mmmatt]

Hoping for good news soon on this front...

The whole time since the election I've had a strong feeling that Gallant was putting up a facade of "we need to review first" in order to dissuade anyone who would think he was just following along with the conservatives...or playing favorites to his home riding etc...

I think its just posturing to try and stem some backlash that will inevitably come from other parts of the province...

But honestly this project is long overdue at this point...its been studied to death...the site is prepared...LETS GO!

[NBNYer]

Did anyone attend the meeting?

Radio-Can is reporting that Jacques Dubé is apparently optimistic about funding and may have hinted at an announcement.

http://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/atlan...ncton-nb-jacques-dube.shtml?isAutoPlay=1


Upcoming deadlines set forth by city council:
June 20th: secure all financing
July 30th: city council project approval
Septembre 30th: final agreement with developer, construction
Septembre 2018: Moncton Events Centre grand opening

[MonctonRad]

Moncton issues funding deadline for $107M downtown centre
Jacques Dubé says the city is receiving 'very encouraging' signals from the provincial government
CBC News Posted: May 20, 2015 9:25 AM AT|
Last Updated: May 20, 2015 9:25 AM AT

Moncton is issuing a deadline to the provincial and federal governments to commit to funding for the $107-million proposed downtown sports and entertainment centre.

Jacques Dubé, the city manager, says the two levels of government have until June 20 to find the cash for the downtown arena and entertainment centre.

The provincial government issued a set of guidelines on Tuesday that must be in place before recreational infrastructure projects will be funded.

Dubé also told council on Tuesday night that he's negotiated a one-year extension with the two developers who want to build the downtown centre.

The city manager says he thinks the provincial government may be willing to put some money into the deal.

"The province has sent a very encouraging signal in the last few days," he said on Tuesday.

Dubé says the provincial government has set out 13 criteria which he thinks the city can meet.

He says both the provincial and the federal governments are close to agreeing to help Moncton pay for road and storm sewer projects.

Those are infrastructure projects that Moncton was planning to pay for itself, according to the city manager.

"Based on recent discussions with the province and the federal governments, we are days, not weeks from hearing about funding related to councils replacement funding strategy projects.

Dubé said if those deals come through that would free up money the city could then use for the downtown centre.

On Tuesday a spokesperson for Premier Brian Gallant confirmed he had sent a letter to Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc and Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Robert Goguen, requesting a meeting to discuss the downtown centre.

Personal note - We're down to crunch time now. We will know by June 20th if this thing is going ahead or not.

[L'homard]

I'm not so sure issuing public ultimatums to people from whom you are begging millions is the best way to proceed.
"Give me $50 million by June 20, or......"
Or what?

[josh_cat_eyes]

Any chance the city builds it on its own like Quebec City?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by L'homard

I'm not so sure issuing public ultimatums to people from whom you are begging millions is the best way to proceed.
"Give me $50 million by June 20, or......"
Or what?

It's crunch time. The developers aren't going to wait forever. The city has already negotiated a one year extension on the construction project (with no increased cost). The developers aren't going to do that again. The city's back is therefore against the wall. Any trapped animal will do rash and impulsive things. It's not a matter of biting the hand that feeds you. The city has no choice.

It's now or never.......

I think the feds and the province realize this. There should be significant movement on this file in the next 3-4 weeks.

[habskilla]

Originally Posted by L'homard

I'm not so sure issuing public ultimatums to people from whom you are begging millions is the best way to proceed.
"Give me $50 million by June 20, or......"
Or what?

Negotiations need a dead-line. I know it's kind of weird the hand asking for the money is setting a dead-line. But in this case I can see the city's POV.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by habskilla

Negotiations need a dead-line. I know it's kind of weird the hand asking for the money is setting a dead-line. But in this case I can see the city's POV.

So are they going to say no if the money comes a week later?

[Taeolas]

If it seriously looks like the money could come in a little later, there might be a little wiggle room. But the Govs would have to have pictures of the dumptrucks being loaded with the cash to get it. If it's just another stalling tactic, and nothing seems to have happened publicly or privately, I doubt there's any wiggle room at all.

[JHikka]

Seems silly of the City to impose a deadline on federal and provincial governments for funding. What are they going to do, walk away from the entire project if they miss it? Build it on their own if they miss it? I have a feeling some people at City Hall in Moncton have very little experience dealing with other levels of governments...

[benvui]

I think one of the main reasons for the deadline is because the quotes from the potential developers will expire so if the money comes in after that there won't be enough of it.

[JHikka]

Goguen presser tomorrow at City Hall at 1PM for an "important infrastructure funding announcement". This via Joanna Brewer @ CBC on Twitter.

[pierremoncton]

Media Advisory - Moncton, New Brunswick

Munction, New Brunswick, May 29, 2015 – Members of the media are invited to attend an important infrastructure funding announcement. Participating government representatives include Robert Goguen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament for Moncton–Riverview–Dieppe, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec; the Honourable Roger Melanson, New Brunswick Minister of Finance and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure; the Honourable Cathy Rogers, New Brunswick Minister of Social Development; and George LeBlanc, Mayor of Moncton.

Date:
June 1, 2015

Time:
11:00 a.m.

Location:
City Hall Lobby,
655 Main Street,
Moncton, New Brunswick

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=981799

---

Note that Cathy Rogers is the MLA for Moncton South, which includes the Highfield Square area.

Hold on to your hats.

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by pierremoncton

Hold on to your hats.

This is it! Sounds promising!

[MonctonRad]

This major infrastructure announcement could be for lots of things (like the upgrade to the sewage treatment plant), but the most telling thing is that Cathy Rogers will be there. As pierre pointed out, she is the member for Moncton South which includes the old Highfield Square location. As such, there could very well be something afoot here........

[NBNYer]

http://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/atlantique/2015/05/31/006-decision-imminente-moncton.shtml


Radio-Canada is reporting that the meeting indeed has to do with the events centre.

[Taeolas]

Well with all the names there for the PR, it is more likely than not an announcement that they are going through with it.

I wonder if they'll announce which company will make it at the same time and/or have renderings of what it will look like?

And I'm tempted to watch the CBC comments for all the naysayers coming out of the woodwork.

[Mattyyy]

Could it actually be???

[Taeolas]

CBC's article about it.

Just look at the comments from all those naysayers... I think there was just 1 or 2 positive comments from the 20 already posted.

[gehrhardt]

Maybe they're announcing funding to fix the annual flooding in the Jones Lake area?