[Halifax] Nova Centre | 65-58-58 m | 16-15-14 fl | Completed

[halifaxboyns]

There is still a lot of wheeling and dealing to be done...I wouldn't count on an election just yet. But it certainly would appear that way. Something tells me it will go right to the wire.

[Haliguy]

It will be interesting to see what Peter MacKay says at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce breakfast tomorrow where he is a guest speaker.

[johnny_boy]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

And I'll be moving to Toronto...

Since graduating in 2008 I have worked in Ottawa, Australia and now Toronto. I finished SMU and promptly left after spending all my life in Halifax. I will be happy to go back when there are jobs that aren't at call centres.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by DigitalNinja

Budget was not passed. Looks like no convention center and another election. I think I may vote NDP this time, just because our province is NDP seems like we may get a better deal

The provincial NDP will be flying out of office on the seat of their pants in the next election. ......they are bad for business.

[Keith P.]

If an election is triggered as I expect it will be, look for both Smilin' Jack and Iggy to go down in flames despite the consistent anti-Harper messaging in the media... I fearlessly predict a Conservative majority. If NS and particularly Halifax don't listen to the music and elect a few members on the govt side we can forget any federal assistance for the next 4 years.

[beyeas]

...and the money for the conference centre will be instead lining the pockets of Lockheed Martin.

[Haliguy]

Federal election to freeze Atlantic projects: MacKay
Election would delay financing of Lower Churchill project
The Canadian Press Posted: Mar 23, 2011 10:18 AM AT Last Updated: Mar 23, 2011 10:18 AM AT Back to accessibility links
Supporting Story ContentStory Sharing ToolsShare with Add This Print this story E-mail this story End of Supporting Story ContentBack to accessibility links Beginning of Story ContentDefence Minister Peter MacKay is warning a federal election will put key decisions on Atlantic Canadian megaprojects "on pause."

MacKay told a business audience in Halifax Wednesday morning that in particular a request for federal funding to assist with construction of a $159-million convention centre in Halifax won't take place if the government falls this week.

MacKay said a very strong case has been made to Ottawa to assist with $47 million for the convention centre.

Last week, the province said it was hoping for a decision prior to an election, and Nova Scotia's minister of transportation predicted a federal decision was imminent.

MacKay says the convention centre and other projects that are key to the region's economy are going to be affected by the timing of a federal election.

He says any commitment to assist with the financing of a subsea cable to carry electricity from Labrador's Lower Churchill Falls hydroelectricity project to Nova Scotia would also be further delayed.

[beyeas]

I have no doubt that the above story is true and I really think that yet another election is unnecessary right now, but having said that I am frustrated by the fact that it has taken this long for the feds to make a decision. There is no good reason why a decision had to take this long!!!

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by beyeas

I have no doubt that the above story is true and I really think that yet another election is unnecessary right now, but having said that I am frustrated by the fact that it has taken this long for the feds to make a decision. There is no good reason why a decision had to take this long!!!

I agree..thier just playing politics with it.

[CorbeauNoir]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

If an election is triggered as I expect it will be, look for both Smilin' Jack and Iggy to go down in flames despite the consistent anti-Harper messaging in the media...I fearlessly predict a Conservative majority. If NS and particularly Halifax don't listen to the music and elect a few members on the govt side we can forget any federal assistance for the next 4 years.

I haven't even bothered voting the last couple of elections on account of the Tories essentially winning by default by amassing all right-wing votes while the left is split up. Fearlessly predicting a conservative victory nowadays is like fearlessly predicting gravity won't reverse itself tomorrow.

Not that it would really matter one way or the other given that those last few elections I've been in Calgary. Funny thing is that I'd probably vote for them if the system wasn't so clearly skewed in their favour.

[beyeas]

I think I may pass on voting as well this election... mostly just because I can not stand campaigns based on purely negative messages, which is exactly what they are all doing right now.

I would vote for pretty much anyone regardless of party if they would just actually articulate a clear positive plan that lays out a path towards actually making things better for Canadians. Instead we get nothing but PPP decisions (Petty, Partisan & Political) that are instead aimed at making things better for their individual political bases. They all do it whether they are NDPers or Cons, but then they and their supporters take a fake moral high-ground that it is only the other parties that caters to their base (i.e. The NDP only cave to the unions according to the Con supporters and the Cons only look after the rich according to the NDP supporters).

I want to know why I SHOULD vote for someone because of a well thought out consistent and well articulated plan... not why I should NOT vote for someone because they apparently beat puppies and push old women into traffic, or based on blackmail threats that if we don't vote for them that funding will be cut.

The whole convention centre issue has been horribly politicized, with even the federal libs getting into it, the provincial NDP almost caving to the anti-development base, and the federal Tories playing politics with the decision.

[Dmajackson]

I don't care much for federal elections since the form of federal government doesn't really impact us Atlantic Canadians. Municipal and Provincial elections are defenitely important and I'll be voting in both in 2012 and 2014 (?) repsectively.

I've met my community's federal representative once before and he seems to do his job well so chances are he'll get my vote. I don't even know who the other compeitiors will be other than the heavily rumoured Peter Kelly.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by johnny_boy

Since graduating in 2008 I have worked in Ottawa, Australia and now Toronto. I finished SMU and promptly left after spending all my life in Halifax. I will be happy to go back when there are jobs that aren't at call centres.

I know!!! I graduated in 2008 and have worked everywhere except Halifax.

Do you have any tips regarding jobs in Ottawa, Australia, or Toronto? That's likely where I will be considering I work in trade and we may not have a new trade centre and the resulting jobs.

I'm not working in an f'ing call centre.

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

If an election is triggered as I expect it will be, look for both Smilin' Jack and Iggy to go down in flames despite the consistent anti-Harper messaging in the media... I fearlessly predict a Conservative majority. If NS and particularly Halifax don't listen to the music and elect a few members on the govt side we can forget any federal assistance for the next 4 years.

I'm going to boldly make the opposite prediction Throughout political history, campaigns that were suppose to be sure things according to the polls and the talking heads went sideways for the party in power after enough "mess" had built up. Stephen Harper wasn't suppose to win, neither was John Hamm or Jean Chretien. Trudeau was given up for dead and had quit and left before coming racing back. Rod Ford just did the same in Toronto, coming from joke candidate to mayor! The Harper government has made enough mistakes and some of their big spending priorities are out of sync with the public wants (corporate tax cuts, fighters, jails). I kind of suspect their hatchet job on Iggy has actually gone too far. Expectations are now so low for him that it won't be too hard to impress. I'm not saying the Liberals are going to win this time out, but I suspect the Tories are going to get sent to their rooms without desert. A reduced Tory minority would be my guess.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

Federal election to freeze Atlantic projects: MacKay
Election would delay financing of Lower Churchill project
The Canadian Press Posted: Mar 23, 2011 10:18 AM AT Last Updated: Mar 23, 2011 10:18 AM AT

Defence Minister Peter MacKay is warning a federal election will put key decisions on Atlantic Canadian megaprojects "on pause."

MacKay told a business audience in Halifax Wednesday morning that in particular a request for federal funding to assist with construction of a $159-million convention centre in Halifax won't take place if the government falls this week.

MacKay said a very strong case has been made to Ottawa to assist with $47 million for the convention centre.

Last week, the province said it was hoping for a decision prior to an election, and Nova Scotia's minister of transportation predicted a federal decision was imminent.

MacKay says the convention centre and other projects that are key to the region's economy are going to be affected by the timing of a federal election.

He says any commitment to assist with the financing of a subsea cable to carry electricity from Labrador's Lower Churchill Falls hydroelectricity project to Nova Scotia would also be further delayed.

So should this be taken as a positive (it sounds like a definite "maybe")? If it is such a strong case, then will it be funded soon after a possible Conservative election win? Or is MP MacKay saying that people who support a convention centre should hope that there is no election? This certainly is politicking.

Will Rank Inc. wait for the election results in May (it might depend on whether Joe Ramia is a Conservative supporter or not, and if he can still deliver on the financing terms)?


PS: There is a poll of people on skyscraperpage regarding the upcoming election - http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=189777 . The Conservatives are in the lead. I believe that there is a connection to the Nova Centre .

[Waye Mason]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

There is a poll of people on skyscraperpage regarding the upcoming election - http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=189777 . The Conservatives are in the lead. I believe that there is a connection to the Nova Centre .

Everyone should vote the same as last time so we can replace Iggy, Jack and scary dead eyes Harper at the same time.

[someone123]

Why wouldn't Ramia wait? The only problem would be if his budget doesn't work out with whatever he can get from the government.

"A very strong case" I'm guessing is a hint that they'd fund it if not for this pesky election (so get upset at the opposition!).

[worldlyhaligonian]

Its been a sad week in Halifax development, with the Salter Street project not proceeding and this project being delayed.

Lets hope that Bayview and other reputable projects can proceed!

At least we will likely get KW!!!

[midasmull]

Originally Posted by someone123

Why wouldn't Ramia wait? The only problem would be if his budget doesn't work out with whatever he can get from the government.

"A very strong case" I'm guessing is a hint that they'd fund it if not for this pesky election (so get upset at the opposition!).

He's indicated earlier that while the convention center is his Plan A for the site, Plans B & C carry less risk and more profit. (AllNS - Nov. 9, 2010)

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by midasmull

He's indicated earlier that while the convention center is his Plan A for the site, Plans B & C carry less risk and more profit. (AllNS - Nov. 9, 2010)

I may be wrong, but Im pretty sure whatever he has planned for B & C wont make near the profit he would on Nova Centre.