Governments meet to discuss proposed downtown Moncton events centre

WATCH: A Moncton downtown business development group is optimistic the city will get a new centre following word of a meeting between three levels of government. Global’s Brion Robinson reports.

MONCTON – A member of a Moncton downtown business development group says he’s optimistic about getting an events centre built following a meeting between the municipal, federal and provincial governments.

Lawrence Forbes said Monday all sides meeting together means they are working toward a plan.

Forbes said besides the construction, building the facility would mean tens of millions of dollars in related projects.

“There’s $50 million worth of projects on the ground ready to go when the events centre is announced and construction starts,” he said.

The city wants to build the proposed $100-million centre on the old Highfield Square Shopping Centre site. The building was demolished last year to make way for the project.

The city needs provincial and federal funding to cover about half the cost before that can happen.

The sides met Monday to discuss the project. Robert Goguen, Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, said he supports it.

“Every single economic analysis that’s been done has unanimously concluded that there is a great return on investment for this project, so I’d be shocked to find a study that contradicts that,” he said.

Roger Melanson, the province’s transportation and infrastructure minister, said his department still needs proof it will work.

He said the city has to meet guidelines before it’s eligible to receive funding.

“We want to see some true economic growth, some return in investment and we want to protect taxpayers of New Brunswick. And so the assessment is ongoing,” he said.

Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc said having all sides meet is a step forward.

“We’re all coming to an understanding of how all this is going to work and I remain very optimistic that we will meet the policy of New Brunswick,” he said.