Prime Minister Stephen Harper is in Edmonton after he arrived a day earlier to take in the Grey Cup. The prime minister was quick to get down to business Monday defending his government's decision to not support our city's bid to host the Expo 2017.
In a prepared statement, Harper called the Expo a high-risk project that's too expensive. He said supporting it would have been costly for Alberta taxpayers.
"Our caucus is very clear that not proceeding is the right decision. And by the way, not only for the taxpayers of Canada, this is the right decision for the taxpayers of Alberta and most importantly, the taxpayers of Edmonton," said Harper.
This comes after Mayor Stephen Mandel has continued to air his frustration and anger over the federal government's decision.
Mandel said he doesn't believe the federal government when they say pricey security costs were the reason they couldn't support Edmonton's bid to host the fair. Mandel has gone as far to say that the government "made this excuse up."
Ottawa has continued to claim security costs could have reached into the hundreds of millions.
The pair met for the first time in person Monday but Mandel admitted the two agreed on very little.
"The prime minister alluded to that we had spent three years doing something that was a bad idea? No I'm not happy about it but he's the prime minister I'm not," said Mandel.
Harper claimed to have the support of not only Albertans but also Edmontonians informing media that surveys show taxpayers didn't want the Expo.
"I want to thank the people of Edmonton who I think from everything I'm seeing in terms of public opinion surveying are pretty clearly supporting the decision," said Harper
The prime minister admitted those public opinion surveys weren't exactly scientific but simply something they had seen on a few local websites.
But through his frustration, Mandel admitted the city has to move on.
"I'm not happy but we'll have to move on and do the things we need for the City of Edmonton."
The city and province have already spent $3.5 million on the bid.
With files from Scott Roberts
