Notley won't say if she'll approve or kill Calgary arena deal if elected premier

Alberta's election hasn't officially started yet, but the pre-campaign politicking hit a new high Tuesday when premier and UCP leader Danielle Smith announced $330 million for a Calgary arena project.

Alberta's election hasn't officially started yet, but the pre-campaign politicking hit a new high Tuesday when premier and UCP leader Danielle Smith announced $330 million for a Calgary arena project.

A statement from her party was titled: "Danielle Smith and the UCP will get Calgary's new Arena Built."

On Wednesday, Smith was asked why she is putting taxpayer dollars into the deal, along with the City of Calgary and Flames ownership, after she spoke against Alberta doing so for Rogers Place in Edmonton as leader of the Wildrose Party.

"This is not money going to an arena, so nothing has changed. This is money that is going to infrastructure support," Smith told reporters.

She also said she "hopes this doesn't become an election issue" before making a promise to voters that her party will get the arena project built.

"People will know, that if the UCP gets reelected, absolutely it's going to be a done deal," Smith said.

A few hours later, NDP Leader Rachel Notley was asked what will happen to the deal if she is elected premier on May 29, but she did not say if she'd support it or scrap it.