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Premier says budget update was ‘exciting way’ to present information

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Alison Redford is responding to critics who say the province’s recent budget update was lacking in terms of supporting data.
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Progressive Conservative leader Alison Redford talks about the province’s promising future during a meeting with the Advocate’s editorial board Friday.

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Alison Redford is responding to critics who say the province’s recent budget update was lacking in terms of supporting data.

Finance Minister Doug Horner announced Thursday that falling oil revenues and a volatile global marketplace could leave taxpayers with a deficit as large as $3 billion dollars this year.

Scott Hennig of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation noted the report contained few numbers that would allow the public to understand how the government arrived at its projections.

But Redford told reporters Sunday that the report was an exciting opportunity to change the way the government presents information.

Redford also responded to last week’s announcement that her government was cancelling plans for a $122-million police training college.

She says police officials told the province in a letter three weeks ago that the facility wasn’t necessary.