CANADA - The Winnipeg Convention Centre is hoping it can benefit from CAN$189m (US$191m) of unspent infrastructure funding left in Ottawa’s tripartite Building Canada Fund pot.
The funding was originally targeted for transport improvements, in particular the bus rapid transit line connecting Winnipeg’s Main Street to the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus.
Tripartite funding requires all three levels of government to support a specific infrastructure project. If any one of the partners says no, it functions as a virtual veto and that’s what the city authorities did with the transport project.
Expansion of the Winnipeg Convention Centre is one of several other big infrastructure projects now being advanced by various lobbies keen for a slice of the funding pie leftovers.
The WCC claims it needs new investment so that Winnipeg remains a top-five destination for conventions in Canada.
Last year, the WCC and city had an application turned down for federal funding under the Public-Private Partnership stream.
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