A look at the space where Alison Redford suite was to be built
Hours after a CBC News story revealed plans for a luxury penthouse suite for former premier Alison Redford, the Alberta government opened up the space to the media.
Documents obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request show Redford ordered a luxury penthouse for the 11th floor of the provincially-owned Federal Building in downtown Edmonton.
The space, which boasts spectacular views of the Alberta legislature, the North Saskatchewan River valley and the downtown skyline, will now be turned into boardrooms and a space for hosting.
By Friday afternoon, the government arranged a tour for the media to see the space, which is still under construction.
Infrastructure Minister Ric McIver says the plans were cancelled after he took over the ministry in December.
"I just called my senior staff and I made it really clear -- I was very direct about the fact that there will be no residential space in there,” he said.
The original design had a formal dining room with seating for 12, a private study, a butler’s pantry and “sleeping and grooming quarters with clothing storage for an adult and one teenager (separate is preferable).”
The plans also had a space for hosting guests as well as an area for “focused computer work, and a relaxed, social space for entertaining, watching TV and a library area.”
McIver doesn’t know how much was spent on planning before the penthouse was scrapped.
Opposition parties are calling for the government to release the plans and the cost.