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Alberta tory leadership hopeful Ted Morton hopes to raise the G.S.T. to pay for a new Edmonton hockey arena. digital photo by Larry MacDougalLarry MacDougal

Alberta Tory leadership hopeful Ted Morton has an idea he thinks would help pay for a new downtown NHL arena in Edmonton.

Morton is floating the idea to add one per cent to the GST in the Edmonton area for two years in order to raise $100-million to help build the new rink.

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel says he appreciates some suggestions are being floated, but says Morton's plan would take time.

He says that's because it would have to go to a plebiscite, which he believes would take too long as the city needs to look at construction costs now.

Mandel says he'd like to see current Premier Ed Stelmach make the decision rather than leave it to his successor.

Wildrose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith would like a lottery conducted to help fundraise for the arena.

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