Taxpayers on hook for condo

Photo: CTV

Former Alberta premier Alison Redford returned to work as the backbench MLA for the riding of Calgary-Elbow at the legislature in Edmonton on Monday, May 5, 2014. (Dean Bennett / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

New documents tabled in the Alberta legislature reveal taxpayers were billed $150,000 just for design concepts on a planned penthouse for former premier Alison Redford.

The total bill for consulting work on the suite, that has been dubbed the sky palace, was just over $173,000.

The documents were tabled in the house by former infrastructure minister Ric McIver, who has stepped down to run for the Tory leadership.

McIver said he cancelled the sky palace just weeks after he took over the portfolio in January because it wasn't something taxpayers should pay for.

The suite, with bedrooms for Redford and her daughter, was to match the posh elegance of the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington.

Redford refused to comment on the suite earlier this week, saying she has moved on with her new life as a backbench member of the legislature.