Huge cost overruns not withstanding, the new convention centre will be an economic winner, Tourism Minister Stan Hagen said yesterday.

Following a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade, Hagen said that, while he is concerned about getting the massive project on the inner waterfront completed by the March 2009 deadline, he is not overly worried about the overall cost, which is now around the $800-million mark, roughly $185 million over earlier estimates.

"I have two major challenges with the convention centre: Getting it done on time and within the new budget, and marketing it to the world. I am certainly more confident now than I was a few months ago," he said.

A new marketing plan is expected soon, but Hagen said the positive impact of the centre is already starting to show.

There are 50 conventions booked for it and 27 of those would not have been able to come here without a larger centre, he said.

They will put hundreds of millions of new dollars into the economy and in the future will bring even bigger rewards.

It will be the most technologically advanced building of its type in the world when completed and getting the right marketing plan in place will be key, Hagen said.

The minister also revealed he is pressing the federal government to move quickly on introducing a new "open-skies" policy that would allow more direct air service into Vancouver.

Hagen said he recently met with federal officials and plans to keep banging on the door to get them to move.

"They know what has to be done but just can't seem to get to it. It's a bit like turning a giant oil tanker.

"Air Canada doesn't need any protection and the need is there to relax the rules," he said.

© The Vancouver Province 2007