| R.A.M. - A Alberta Boondoggle |
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EDMONTON, AB (August 24, 2011): Alberta taxpayers are on the hook again for yet another PC spending boondoggle with the overpriced, uninspiring and unnecessary Royal Alberta Museum replacement, Wildrose Finance Critic Rob Anderson said today. While running a $4 billion cash deficit, the Alberta government is spending $340 million on a new Royal Alberta Museum in downtown Edmonton to replace the current one. Design proposals submitted last week were roundly criticized as bland and underwhelming. “Albertans must look at these four dismal design options and think to themselves, ‘We’re paying $340 million for this?’” Anderson said. “We’re running deficits, we’re draining our savings, we’re laying off teachers and we’re dropping $340 million to build a museum to replace one we already have. This is the epitome of wasteful and unnecessary spending.” A Wildrose government would objectively analyze infrastructure projects and upgrades and rank them on a priority list, so Albertans would know the exact priority of each proposed infrastructure project. Anderson said the proposed new RAM ranks up with the $275 million for new MLA offices and $2 billion for carbon capture and storage as some of the worst examples of wasteful PC spending. “Building a replacement museum while we’re racking up debt and deficits isn’t our idea of a priority project or fiscal responsibility,” Anderson said. The Wildrose Caucus stands for free enterprise, less government, increased personal freedom and democracy. For further information or to arrange an interview, media are invited to contact: Brock Harrison
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