The biggest empty ballroom in town

VANCOUVER/CKNW - More questions about the Vancouver Convention Centre project in the legislature today, after a tourism official predicted it will become the biggest empty ballroom in Vancouver.
NDP leader Carole James seized on comments by Fairmont Hotels Vice-President Phil Barnes that not enough has been done to book future conventions into a centre that will cost taxpayers at least $800 million.

"The biggest empty ballroom in town end quote....to the minister of tourism sports and the arts, just how many millions is he willing to waste on an empty ballroom?"

But Tourism Minister Stan Hagen denies the charge.

"We are on track for bookings on conferences right out to 2016."

But Hagen still can't give a final price tag for the project that was supposed to come in at $495 million.

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