Federal election to freeze Atlantic projects: MacKay

Defence Minister Peter MacKay is warning a federal election will put key decisions on Atlantic Canadian megaprojects "on pause."

MacKay told a business audience in HalifaxWednesday morningthat in particular a request for federal funding to assist with construction of a $159-million convention centre in Halifax won't take place if the government falls this week.

MacKay said a very strong case has been made to Ottawa to assist with $47 million for the convention centre.

Last week, the province said it was hoping for a decision prior to an election, and Nova Scotia's minister of transportation predicted a federal decision was imminent.

MacKay says the convention centre and other projects that are key to the region's economy are going to be affected by the timing of a federal election.

He says any commitment to assist with the financing of a subsea cable to carry electricity from Labrador's Lower Churchill Falls hydroelectricity project to Nova Scotia would also be further delayed.