Bayplex waiting for money
MP, MLA say renovation funding will arrive soon
A municipal councillor believes the provincial and federal governments are on board with the Bayplex renovation project — but where’s the money?
Dist. 10 Coun. Darren Bruckschwaiger says the project needed to begin by May or it might not meet its official opening date of September 2019.
“I’m getting very concerned that it’s very close to that not happening,” Bruckschwaiger said Thursday. “It’s important that we get this thing going.”
Bruckschwaiger said within the last 10 days he has spoken to both Cape Breton-Canso MP Rodger Cuzner and Glace Bay MLA Geoff MacLellan.
“Geoff said he’s just waiting on something from Rodger and it’s all set to go,” he said. “I just hold out hope something happens soon.”
Bruckschwaiger said this is an important project for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and the community.
“We heard that loud and clear and we went to council and got it approved. We want this to proceed ASAP.”
In March, the CBRM approved funding for repairs to the Bayplex. The repairs — estimated at $9 million over two years — are to be costshared by the three levels of government with the CBRM’s share in 2018 standing at $1.5 million, based on the federal and provincial governments also committing $1.5 million each.
“When you look at the financial situation the CBRM is in, I give full kudos to the local councillors (Darren) Bruckschwaiger and (George) MacDonald for pushing the project and I know Mayor (Cecil) Clarke is fully supportive as well,” said Cuzner.
“I understand one of the things that tied the application up for a bit was the guarantee of sustainability,” he said.
“It had to receive a motion from council of when (the CBRM was) going to take over the operation of the Bayplex. Once that was done then the application was able to proceed.”
Cuzner said to be fair to the province, it has only had the application for a couple weeks and due diligence must be done.
“I’m confident that Geoff will usher that through and I’ve talked to my people (in Ottawa), once it comes up to the federal level I’m sure that we’ll be able to act quickly.”
MacLellan, who is also the Nova Scotia Business minister, believes the municipality’s final signoff date was about two weeks ago.
MacLellan said the funding has to receive Treasury Board approval before it can proceed to the federal government.
“I wouldn’t think it’s going to take more than a few weeks,” he said. “Once we have it finalized our processes are relatively quick.”
The MLA shares the concerns of his colleagues with respect to the timeline.
“The sooner the better. The public appreciates how important the Bayplex is and I don’t want the process to get lost in the time delays.”
MacLellan is confident all three levels of government will provide funding.
“We’re going to work together to make sure that process finalizes and the money is flowing in as soon as possible.
“The money is going to be there and the plan is finalized, we’re in good shape. It’s incumbent upon all of us to be pushing the application along as quickly as possible and hopefully will have it all finalized in the near future.”
The municipality officially took over the Bayplex in November 2017.
“When you look at the financial situation the CBRM is in, I give full kudos to the local councillors (Darren) Bruckschwaiger and (George) MacDonald for pushing the project and I know Mayor (Cecil) Clarke is fully supportive as well,” said Cuzner.
Cape Breton-Canso MP Rodger Cuzner