When Alberta wanted to spend 12x as much on its birthday as Saskatchewan did
Province of Alberta had plan to spend $75M for 75th birthday bash, but had many details to work out
The people were ready for a party, but the politicians still had to decide what that party would look like.
In 1979, Alberta had set a budget to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its life as a Canadian province in the coming year, earmarking a $75-million spend for that purpose.
But with months to go before the big birthday, there was a lot of work to be done in deciding what that celebration would look like.
"Although 1980 is virtually upon us, there is still no final plan to mark the anniversary year," the CBC's Don Newman explained to viewers on The National on Dec. 4, 1979.
Alberta Culture Minister Mary Lemessurier said a tentative plan had been put together, but it needed approval from the provincial cabinet.
Consultants had put forward some ideas for the celebrations, which were being considered. But Newman said the government had only hired half the staff it would need to implement whatever plans were made.
Still, Alberta's party ambitions were evident, if only in its commitment to spending big — 12 times that of neighbouring Saskatchewan, which had also become a province in 1905 and would also be celebrating a 75-year anniversary the following year.
"So with only 2 million people in this province and $75 million to spend, it could be quite a celebration, if they could only think of something to spend the money on," said Newman.
