Whisper
November 28th, 2007, 10:42 PM
Citing runaway construction costs and market conditions in Edmonton, the Alberta government halted plans to build a new residence for the lieutenant governor.
A budget of $5.3 million was set last year, but a recent project review showed that would not cover the cost of something suitable for the Queen's representative. The project is now on hold indefinitely.
The province has already spent $380,000 on design and consulting fees for the project, and will have to negotiate the cost of cancelling contracts with consultants and construction teams which could reach $400,000.
The remaining money, estimated to be more than $4.5 million, will be redirected to other government projects.
"The project cannot be completed within the approved budget, and increasing funding doesn't make any sense when there are so many other priorities to consider," said Luke Ouellette, minister of infrastructure and transportation, on Wednesday.
When he's in Edmonton, Lt.-Gov. Norman Kwong will continue to stay in a temporary residence in the Glenora neighbourhood, purchased in 2005 for about $2 million.
The home is located down the street from the property where the former official residence was demolished in 2004 and was to be the site of the new residence.
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...Jesus
A budget of $5.3 million was set last year, but a recent project review showed that would not cover the cost of something suitable for the Queen's representative. The project is now on hold indefinitely.
The province has already spent $380,000 on design and consulting fees for the project, and will have to negotiate the cost of cancelling contracts with consultants and construction teams which could reach $400,000.
The remaining money, estimated to be more than $4.5 million, will be redirected to other government projects.
"The project cannot be completed within the approved budget, and increasing funding doesn't make any sense when there are so many other priorities to consider," said Luke Ouellette, minister of infrastructure and transportation, on Wednesday.
When he's in Edmonton, Lt.-Gov. Norman Kwong will continue to stay in a temporary residence in the Glenora neighbourhood, purchased in 2005 for about $2 million.
The home is located down the street from the property where the former official residence was demolished in 2004 and was to be the site of the new residence.
~~~~~~~~~~~
...Jesus