Build it Right questions candidates during MSVU Forum

Members of the Build it Right group attended the Halifax West All Candidate Forum at MSVU yesterday and posed the following question:

Northcliffe pool was built in 1974 and is heavily over-used. The proposed mainland common recreation facility needs to be an appropriately sized replacement that will meet the demands of a much larger population for the next 30 years. Such a facility will be a key element of our community's health and fitness and help to reduce our high youth crime rates. Building this facility right will require a commitment of several million additional dollars from the federal government. I would like to ask each candidate tonight if they will give their personal pledge to:

1. support the project,

2. commit to getting for the project at least $4 million total funding from the federal government for the first phase of its development, and

3. work closely with the Build-it-Right coalition until the new Recreation Centre is built.

Notably, NDP candidate Alan Hill took aim at Liberal candidate and incumbent Geoff Regan suggesting Regan should have been able to get more than the $1.2 million of infrastructure funding from the Liberal pre-election spending spree.

In his response to Build it Right, Regan referred to Paul Martin's campaign announcement about a recreation facility infrastructure program of $350 million, committed to working with the Build it Right group but also commented he could not commit to any funding figure.

It is clear this issue is one of the most pressing for the riding of Halifax West. The mainland common was featured in the opening speeches and closing speeches of both Geoff Regan (Liberal) and Allan Hill (NDP). Hill seemed to want to talk about it the most and also seemed to make the most solid remarks. Regan's remarks were non committal likely due to the uncertainty of his government.