EDMONTON - The Alberta government shaved $10 million off the cost of the long-delayed Federal Building renovations by quietly scrapping several planned features, including a skating rink that promised a “spectacular view of the legislature.”

The project, which is years behind schedule and $100 million over budget, has been plagued by hurdles and labelled a symbol of government waste by the opposition. The province first announced the renovation in 2008 and projected it would be completed by fall 2011. But work in the 56-year-old building hit roadblocks because of structural deficiencies and asbestos removal.

Its cost, initially pegged at $356 million, was scaled back to $275 million as the province grappled with budget constraints. The cost has since jumped to $375 million.

Axing the skating rink saved $1 million, along with $120,000 the province would have spent to purchase a Zamboni for the site, said Dave Prisco, spokesman for Infrastructure Minister Manmeet Bhullar. A garage built to house the Zamboni will now be used as a general storage facility, he added.

The province also cancelled the redevelopment of the lower plaza that would have included landscaping work and water features, saving $6.5 million in the process, Prisco said. A further $2.5 million was saved by cancelling installation of some audio-visual equipment, kitchen appliances and ceiling fixtures within the building.

“These decisions were made because government sought to contain costs. In light of our current fiscal situation, those decisions appear prudent and sensible,” Prisco said Friday, referring to a potential $7-billion hole in the provincial budget caused by crashing oil prices.

The province didn’t inform the public when the decision was made to cancel the rink in April 2013. Instead, all references to it and any artists’ renditions were removed from the website of Alberta Infrastructure. Prisco said he didn’t know when the decision was made to cancel work on other features, including the lower plaza.

This week, the province said staff will finally begin moving into the building at the beginning of February, but the process isn’t expected to be complete until late summer — nearly four years behind schedule.

Final checks and fixes are currently underway at the building located at the corner of 107th Street and 99th Avenue on the north side of the legislature grounds.

The province expects to receive its occupancy permit for the building by Jan. 30.

It will provide officers and committee meetings rooms for 600 people, including Tory backbenchers, opposition MLAs and legislative assembly staff.

The remodelled building and accompanying plaza will still include such features as a visitors’ centre, gift shop and 80-seat theatre on the main floor.

The Federal Building became infamous last year after it was revealed former premier Alison Redford had ordered a luxury penthouse suite on its 11th floor. The suite has since been cancelled and the top floor will instead hold meeting rooms, as was originally planned.

mibrahim@edmontonjournal.com

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