Halifax, NS: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today called on the Dexter government to scrap the deal on a new $325 million convention centre in Halifax because it doesn’t make economic sense. The proposal forces taxpayers to foot 100 per cent of the capital costs while at the same forcing the government to make lease payments on a yearly basis.
“Having taxpayers pay to build a new trade centre, only to have it leased back to them, is like buying a new house, being forced to pay rent while you live there and when you move out you can’t even sell it,” says Kevin Lacey, Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
The CTF also questioned the economic and job claims being made by the government.
“If government spending created real jobs, every Nova Scotian would have two jobs by now,” continued Lacey. “And if there really were millions of dollars to be reaped by this new convention centre, private businesses would be lining up to build it, own it and profit from it.”
Lacey adds that a possible agreement for the Province to sell the old trade centre to the City of Halifax doesn’t make this a better deal for taxpayers.
“There’s just one taxpayer. Moving the money around between levels of government doesn’t make the project any more attractive.”
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