Redford’s penthouse called into question
Posted Mar 28, 2014 4:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Infrastructure Minister Ric McIver said no to a bad idea and that’s how Alison Redford’s premier’s suit never came to be.
The minister was part of the Treasury Board when decisions were made to add money to the multi-million dollar redevelopment of the old Federal Building in Edmonton.
What’s being called Redford’s “sky palace” would have included bedrooms and walk-in closets for the premier and her daughter, a dining room, a butler’s pantry and elevator access that would bypass opposition offices.
McIver said when he learned in January that Redford was building a penthouse in a government building, he took action immediately.
“I went and looked and saw that the finishing wasn’t done. I immediately contacted my deputy and made it extremely clear that there would be no residential component and I was told that my wishes would be followed,” said McIver.
The space was instead made into board rooms and offices.
Wildrose critic Jeff Wilson said it is unclear how much the back and forth plans cost taxpayers.
“There was definitely discussion about this happening. I believe blueprints were circled amongst some of the MLAs who were touring the Federal Building while we were looking at what would become our new office space as the official opposition,” said Wilson.
He said at that time, they may not have known there were plans for that level of a premier’s suit.
“I don’t think we’ve seen anything quite like it before. It’s, quite frankly, disgusting and shows entitlement at its best,” he said.
Wilson said he expects to find out about a lot more “skeletons in the closet” from the PC government in the next six months, while the party tries to get to a place where it can start over.
New premier Dave Hancock’s office said in an email they are trying to meet their responsibility for transparency and accountability during the leadership change.
The office released a list Friday, revealing severance pay for Redford’s senior staff passed $1.3m.
(With files from The Canadian Press and 660News)
