HALIFAX, NS: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) expressed disappointment that the federal government has decided to fund a new downtown Halifax convention centre.

“In giving this project the green light, the feds have ensured taxpayers will be on the hook for a heavy initial outlay as well as millions more in future operating loses,” said Kevin Lacey, Atlantic Director with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Today’s announcement means that money better spent on tax reduction, schools and hospitals will instead be wasted on this resource draining undertaking.”

The CTF was also critical of the federal government’s decision to spend more of taxpayers’ money than was originally sought.

“The federal government is running multi-year, multi-billion dollar deficits, yet not only did they support a money-losing convention centre, they even invested more money than they were originally asked for,” says Lacey.

The CTF says the debate over the past year about the convention centre has been very constructive for all sides.

“This past year has generated a very constructive debate about government’s role in business. It’s our hope that going forward, governments think twice before they spend taxpayers’ money on projects that the average Nova Scotian will see little to no benefit from,” says Lacey.