HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s auditor general says the provincial government should have ordered an independent second opinion on the $500-million convention center in Halifax before pushing the development ahead.

In his annual report, Jacques Lapointe says 10-year market projections for the downtown project prepared by Trade Centre Ltd. in 2010 lacked appropriate analysis given the size of the proposal. Lapointe says the Crown company’s analysis included growth and market share assumptions that weren’t adequately supported.

He says factors such as the abundance of convention centres in Canada, new competitors and a stagnant convention market were ignored.

The provincial and municipal governments have each committed $56 million to the convention centre, while the federal government has promised $51 million. Lapointe says the provincial government has rejected his call for
an independent review, saying it is satisfied with the projections it has.

With regards to hospitals, Lapointe says they will continue to deteriorate if capital funding is not increased. Lapointe says the Health Department has estimated that more than $600 million will be needed in the next decade for basic infrastructure needs just to maintain the health system.

Lapointe delivered his annual report today, which concludes that if funding is kept at current levels, the province won’t be able to cover equipment and infrastructure repairs as well as replacement needs.

His report says there is no provincial long-term capital planning for hospitals and the Health Department doesn’t track the extent to which equipment and buildings are used. He also says there are problems with the way the department
prioritizes equipment replacement.