Stelmach’s arena stubbornness insults Albertans

July 29, 2011

Alberta’s NDP leader Brian Mason today said that  Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funds should not be used to fund a new arena for Daryl Katz's arena project. “It is unacceptable for  Ed Stelmach to subsidize a billionaire’s pet project while children face more crowded classes in September and health care facilities sit unused because money for staff is denied,” Mason states.

Premier Ed Stelmach suggested recently that the province’s MSI could be given more money and this would be available for Edmonton to use for the $100 million shortfall in funding a new downtown arena.

“Every day I talk with Edmontonians who tell me it is a wrong priority to use public funds for this project,” says Mason. “Providing more money to MSI for an arena would be an inappropriate decision by a lame duck premier.”

Mason says instead the premier should reverse the $100 million in cuts to education if money is available. “Funds should be for kids, not for Katz,” Mason observes. Daryl Katz is the owner of the Edmonton Oilers.

“It is time for a government in Alberta that understands its duty is to the people who pay the taxes. Provincial government money is not in a personal PC wallet. Public priorities must come ahead of private interests," said Mason.