Edmonton – Official Opposition Leader David Swann is wondering what happened to the $2.3 million the Tories granted Chantelle Management to begin construction on a 60-bed long-term care facility. The money was handed over in 2006 through the government’s Affordable Supportive Living Initiative (ASLI), but construction has yet to begin.

“People in Grande Prairie are very concerned by this issue,” Swann says. “The current long-term care facility is in terrible shape and must be replaced as quickly as possible for the sake of resident safety. What’s holding up construction of the new facility?”

“Has the $2.3 million been returned to the province, since Chantelle Management hasn’t started work on the project?” Swann asks. “How common is this kind of circumstance – has the province reviewed all funding given out through ASLI? What about other capital projects, such as schools and hospitals? How much taxpayer money is hanging in limbo, paid out to companies that haven’t delivered? And most importantly, when will the citizens of Grande Prairie receive the long term care facility they were promised back in 2006?”

Swann says that this situation shows that the Stelmach administration takes taxpayer funds for granted and doesn’t seem to care where the money goes.

“There’s no excuse for allowing millions of dollars to go missing for years,” Swann says. “A responsible government would not allow a private company to hold onto millions of taxpayer dollars for this long, especially when there is an urgent need for the facility this money was supposed to fund.”

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