$40.5-million Funding Announcement

On August 6, 2008 MP Peter MacKay, Premier Rodney MacDonald, and Mayor Peter Kelly announced a new $40.5-million funding arrangement to build the Mainland Common Recreation Centre.

The funding arrangement was a marked improvement from previous plans presented by HRM.

Prior to this announcement, HRM had most recently presented three lesser options to citizens of Halifax West in October 2005: (1) renovate Northcliffe pool, (2) build an $8-million replacement facility, or (3) raise $8.1-million within the community to build a $16-million facility.

Noticeably absent from the announcement were:

1. plans to build a 50-metre swimming pool to accommodate a wide range of swimming from leisure to international competition;
2. arena surfaces for sports such as hockey, lacrosse and ringette; and
3. an announcement on when HRM will be sharing the facility plans with members of the community.