• Centennial racks up $2 million for advertising
  
• Alberta spending only $1 million
  

REGINA: Documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) through Freedom of Information show the province has spent $2 million on advertising for Saskatchewan's centennial - twice as much as Alberta.

The Centennial Office has spent, or plans to spend, $2 million to advertise in a variety of mediums:

Print ads: $855,838, Produced by Brown Communications Group
Television ads: $790,327, Produced by Caffeine Commercial Productions, Cinepost Films
Radio ads: $198,038, Produced by Rawlco Radio Network and Twisted Pair Sound
Interior airport posters: $4,858
Outdoor Billboards: $48,311
Web banner ads: $10,770
Centennial Gala advertising: $100,000 (approximated by gala officials)

In addition to these expenditures, Culture Youth and Recreation said in their response to the CTF that "Planning and negotiations continue to finalize further advertising requirements."

Officials at Alberta Centennial Office indicate the total ad budget for their celebrations is approximately $1 million. Those funds are exclusively focused on providing information on how Alberta residents can participate in the royal visit and a September celebration.

"The CTF began here in Saskatchewan and we maintain our administrative headquarters here," said Saskatchewan director David MacLean. "As proud Saskatchewanians, we believe everyone should celebrate our province's history and express our civic pride. This elaborate advertising campaign does not meaningfully contribute to the celebrations."

"Given that $3 million was transferred from the province's partisan 'Our Future is Wide Open' campaign to the centennial budget, you have to wonder whether centennial advertising is aimed at enhancing the celebrations or the government's image," concluded MacLean.