Yellowhead has received a disproportionally high amount of federal infrastructure funding for recreation and cultural services, according to a recent report released by the Federal Liberal Party last Thursday.

The liberal report, released amidst much speculation about an upcoming election, announced that  Yellowhead received five times more money through the $500 million rehabilitation of community and recreation centres than its counterparts. The report accuses the fund of favouring ridings held by conservative cabinet ministers, noting that secretary of state Rob Merrifield and environment minister Jim Prentice have seen large amounts of the recreation centre funding flow into their ridings.

Yellowhead has seen $1.4 million in infrastructure funding from the fund, which is five times higher than the average riding received, the report states. 

The party surveyed 946 provincial and municipal projects that have received approval through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, and have found that 12 per cent of the $4 billion dollar fund has been spent.

The liberals are using the report to portray the conservative government’s funding announcements as an example of vote buying across the country. It noted that conservative ridings in British Columbia received 14 times more money than their non-conservative counterparts.

The party is also highlighting the lack of jobs the stimulus funding has created, noting that the funding has only resulted in the creation of 4,500 jobs to date – far less than the 40,000 jobs the funding was designed to create.

Merrifield was not impressed with the accusation, calling it nonsense, shortly after appearing at Jasper Park Lodge to announce $6 million in spending in the mountain parks for caribou research, rock scaling, cottage tents and other initiatives. That announcement did not involve new funding from the federal government.

Merrifield said the reason Yellowhead had received so much in recreation funding was because Mayerthorpe needed a brand new arena, which made up most of the riding’s contribution. 

“Of the $1.4 million, $800,000 was for Mayerthorpe needed a new arena after theirs burned down,” Merrifield said. “For them to attack this is garbage.”

He cited Edmonton-Strathcona NDP MP Linda Duncan, whose riding received $4.8 million in funding, which is much higher than other ridings.

“If they’re going to release a report, get it right,” Merrifield said.

Merrifield said his party applies funding based on need, not based on who represents the riding. For example he said, Windsor, ON, which has an unemployment rate of nearly 15 per cent following the rash of car plant closures, has received the greatest amount of funding. The riding is represented by NDP MP Joe Comartin.