Halifax Convention Centre drives up Nova Scotia debt by $54M

The Nova Scotia government says the provincial debt will increase by $54 million this year as it puts the entire capital cost of the Halifax Convention Centre on the 2016-2017 books.

On budget day last month, Finance Minister Randy Delorey made a show of applying $110 million in federal and provincial contributions for the convention centre to the debt, saying it will give government "additional capacity" to spend on replacing the aging Victoria General hospital.

The Liberals failed to mention that the debt was in fact rising because of the convention centre.

Unidentified capital asset

The debt increase attributable to the convention centre was not specifically disclosed in budget documents. It is recorded — unidentified — as a $164 million "tangible capital asset."

"The project is pushing the debt up by $54 million," Delorey told reporters Tuesday as he introduced a Financial Measures Act to implement the budget.

CBC News raised the debt manoeuvre during a news conference. Delorey pointed out the government revealed in January 2015 the convention centre would be booked on the debt in the year it was substantially completed.

Opposition Leader Jamie Baillie criticized the Liberal's handling of the convention centre costs.

"When they say they are creating capacity for the VG and the debt is actually going up, they aren't being straight forward with Nova Scotians," he said Tuesday.