Alison Redfords penthouse plans extended into late 2013

The plans to build a luxury penthouse suite for former premier Alison Redford within the Edmonton Federal Building extended into late 2013 and deputy ministers from several government departments knew about them, documents show.

The documents, obtained by CBC News through freedom of information, cast doubt on Infrastructure Minister Wayne Drysdales claim that, as far as he knew, the apartment plans were abandoned in November 2012.

• Alison Redford ordered penthouse suite in Federal Building
• Taxpayers billed $173K for Redford suite, documents show

Everybody is trying to pretend that the former premier, Alison Redford, acted in isolation without talking to anyone, Wildrose leader Danielle Smith said. That is clearly nonsense.

In late March,CBC News revealed Redford had personally ordered a luxury, taxpayer-funded suite to be built on the top floor of the provincially owned Edmonton Federal Building, currently under renovation. The design included a guest hosting and lounge area, a private study and work space, and sleeping and grooming quarters with clothing storage for an adult and one teenager. Redford has a young daughter.

The government has never explained exactly when the plans for the suite were scrapped, why, or how much it would have cost. Documents recently tabled in the legislature show the consulting work alone cost taxpayers $173,000.

When CBC News broke the penthouse story in March, the infrastructure minister at the time, Ric McIver, said he had heard rumours of the suite when he took over the ministry in December 2013. McIver said he toured the Federal Building a month later and ordered staff to scuttle any plans for the apartment.

That directly contradicted the account given by Wayne Drysdale, McIvers predecessor as infrastructure minister.

As of November 15, 2012, my understanding was that these (apartment) plans were abandoned in favour of two boardrooms and additional hosting space, Drysdale said in an emailed statement.

Drysdales involvement questioned

But internal emails show Drysdales deputy ministers were discussing the apartment as recently as October 2013.

I can confirm that maintenance of the Premiers Suite (11th Floor) and the maintenance of the 10th Floor, will be done in-house and the costs will be handled through Infrastructure, deputy minister Marcia Nelson wrote in an Oct. 11, 2013 emailentitled 'Federal Building - Confidential.'

Nelson sent the email to the deputy minister of executive council, Peter Watson, and Kim Armstrong, then a deputy minister with Alberta Justice. Executive council is the ministry that includes the premiers office.

Nelsons predecessor as deputy minister of infrastructure, Ray Gilmour, was also involved in coordinating plans for the suite. Gilmour also worked for Drysdale during the planning of the penthouse.

In an April 2013 email sent to both Watson and Gilmour, Armstrong,then the deputy secretary to cabinet, wrote: The Premier (or one of her staff) had earlier asked about the maintenance of the Federal Building. Most of the maintenance will be contracted out.

Ray is considering whether some select areas of the building, including the Premiers suite, may be kept in house and that is under review. However, in either case, the costs of such maintenance will be in Infrastructures, Armstrong wrote, adding that she, asked Ray to consider how [the premier] can get from basement to 11th Floor in privacy when she is in building. He will review and revert.

Wildrose leader Danielle Smith said it is absurd for Drysdale, and other cabinet members, to claim they had no knowledge of the suite past November 2012.

The deputy minister of justice, the deputy minister of infrastructure ... all knew what was going on, Smith said. Clearly, they would have been under obligation to brief their ministers."

So for everyone to try to pretend that they didnt know it was going on, it has no credibility, Smith said.

Drysdale declined an interview request. But in an email, his spokesperson, Christine Way, said the documents in no way counter what Minister Drysdale has said all along about the 11th floor of the federal building.

Way said that, at no time did Minister Drysdale indicate that he put a stop to or cancelled plans for private space for the Premier on the 11th floor of the Federal Building.

He simply indicated that as of Nov. 15, 2012, his understanding was that plans for this space included boardrooms and hosting space, she said.

Way did not respond when asked to confirm that Drysdale had no knowledge of the discussions involving his deputy ministers.

Sherman calls for explanation

Last week, Drysdale was again named minister of infrastructure, following Ric McIvers resignation to run for the Conservative leadership.

Liberal Leader Raj Sherman challenged Drysdale to be honest with the public about his involvement in the penthouse plans.

The minister owes Albertans an explanation as to why he misled Albertans on (the suite), Sherman said.

Smith said the documents obtained by CBC News clearly show Drysdale and other cabinet ministers knew about the Redford apartment while publicly claiming they didnt.

They all protect each others backs, even when they are doing things that are clearly wrong and offside with the public, and wasting taxpayer dollars, Smith said.

And when they get caught, they all try to pretend that they knew nothing about it, she continued. But fortunately, there is a paper trail and it showed a lot of people knew about it - they just chose not to act.

See the documents