NNC money slow in coming

By Jenn MarshallThe news BulletinSep 26 2006 Nanaimo Bulletin
ICITY STILL waiting for gov't money. Nanaimo is waiting for the provincial and federal governments to buck up for the New Nanaimo Centre project, but no new money is on the horizon. "We're not asking for anything more, we just want to be treated equally to other similar projects," said Mayor Gary Korpan. "So far, the provincial funding for the NNC project is $9.3 million." Last week, the province approved $40 million in long-term funding to support the proposed South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton. The money is coming from a $9.7 million provincial grant and the city's gaming revenues over the next decade. Korpan said the $72.5-million NNC project in Nanaimo has a far wider economic development and job creation benefit than the event centre to be built in Penticton adjacent to the existing Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. "We have applied both to the federal and provincial governments through a number of different programs," said Korpan. "We've had nothing from the federal government towards the new project since we applied in September 2004." Korpan said most of the money for construction of the NNC is coming from municipal budget reserves and the referendum authorizing the borrowing of up to $30 million. City general manager Al Kenning said three sites are included under the umbrella of the NNC project - the foundry site where the Civic Arena is being demolished for condominiums, the Nanaimo Ice Centre and the downtown project, which includes the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, museum and hotel. Any funding the project receives is for the project in its entirety. Kenning said council has a request for more than $20 million for the whole project. Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon said Penticton has not received any money that Nanaimo doesn't have access to. While the Okanagan city has chosen to allocate all of its gaming revenue funds to the project, the Harbour City has only allotted the NNC project $900,000 per year from gaming revenues, saving the remainder for other purposes such as police and fire expenses. Cantelon said the federal government has not come through with much for the project, as they have done in past projects in the city, and the province is waiting for them to put money forward. Nanaimo-Alberni MP James Lunney said he is still pursuing avenues for securing more funding.