[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by algernon

Do you know where I could find the province's criteria? If we had to spend the cash on something superfluous anyway, then who could be upset with that?

You can find a vague outline of the criteria the link here - http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta....initiative.cfm

This is a quote from the site.

Qualifying capital projects include municipal roads, bridges, public transit, water and wastewater systems, emergency services facilities and equipment, solid waste management facilities and equipment, regional and community airport facilities and equipment, and other municipal buildings and facilities such as recreational and sports facilities, libraries, public works buildings, and cultural/community centres.

And you can see where the funding for the pedestrain bridge occurred in the 2008 funding list.

And another follow up comment from the article author by DJ Kelly.

I should point out that my comments about the MSI funding are a bit of an oversimplification. We could have built other bridges but we could not have, for example, hired more staff for Calgary Transit. It's too complicated for me to explain here, with my limited knowledge of the agreement. An alderman our MLA would need to chime in to give you the exact specifications of the "strings" attached in this case.

Needless to say it's a far more complicated issue than just spending 25 million dollars on other things. For example, if you're given 25 million dollars to build something, your first inclination is to probably spend the 25 million on more Trains. But that 25 million is one time thing and won't cover the added upkeep of the trains over the next 20 years - new drivers, train maintance etc.,

But a one time purchase of a bridge which will last for 80 years does make a bit more sense.

If anything, it's a far more complicated issue then simply - I would have spent it else where.