$1.8 million local stimulus project in jeopardy

The Ermatinger/ Clergue Heritage Discovery Centre may never open its doors.

Last night, City Council heard that tenders opened recently came from just two companies and both were significantly over budget for the 6,500-square-foot discovery centre.

Councillors also heard that the chances of finishing the economic stimulus project in time for the March 31, 2011 deadline for $1.8 million in federal funding are pretty slim.

This would make the project ineligible for funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage's cultural spaces program.

"We're just not seeing a lot of cooperation from the federal government," said Ward 2 Councillor Susan Myers.

The local historic sites board is meeting today to decide whether it will try to pare down the costs of the project, look for more funding elsewhere, or shelve the project until more funding can be located.

Meanwhile, City Council voted last night to ask Mayor John Rowswell to write a letter to the minister of Heritage Canada, asking that time lines on the project be reconsidered.