Robert Guertin rebuild $1.4M over budget

Officials behind a new hockey complex in Gatineau, Que., are pointing the finger at the province for delays they say haveforced the project $1.4 million over budget.

The four-rink Centre Robert Guertinon boulevard de la Cit will replace the aging home of the GatineauOlympiquesjunior hockey team on rue de Carillon.

But VisionMultisportsOutaouais(VMSO), the non-profit group behind the project, said a five-month delay inobtaining a certificate from Quebec'sEnvironment Ministry is driving up costs.

GatineauMayorMaximePedneaud-Jobin joined VMSOpresidentAlainSanscartieratGatineauCity Hall Tuesday, where he downplayed the increase.

"We are approaching something very concrete," Pedneaud-Jobinsaid in French. "It was not a big sacrifice for all the gains that it will bring."

Gunning for 2020

The new facility will havehave a 4,000-seat arenaand three more community ice rinks.

The Quebec government's approval came in January, nearly a year after the city signed off on the project.

The city was originally on the hook for $36.5 million of the project's original $78.5-million price tag, with VMSOpaying $16 million and the province pitching in $26 million.

Now the complex will cost municipal taxpayers $37.9 million, not including another $25 million for a multi-level parking garage and improvements to nearby street.

VMSOhas 30 months to build the garage,but the company said it's aiming to complete it within26 months and finish the overall construction by November 2020.