Alberta premier not budging on Edmonton Oilers arena cash request

CALGARY - Premier Ed Stelmach is reiterating that Alberta will not contribute direct cash to help build a new downtown arena for the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers cleared a major hurdle toward getting a new arena by working out a framework deal with the City of Edmonton.

That deal hinges on either the Alberta or federal governments coming up with $100 million for the project.

Stelmach says his government will not put any direct cash into the deal, but he is open to helping with infrastructure costs if it gets to that stage.

But he says the government is continuing to meet with the project's stakeholders.

Alberta is expected to run a $3.4-billion deficit this year while it waits for oil and natural gas prices to rebound.