Regina City Council has agreed to offer Costco a $6.78 million incentive to build a second location in the city, but not without alleged external pressure from the provincial government.

At a council meeting on Wednesday, members learned that right as Costco had reached a deal to build in the Westerra neighborhood, it cancelled it in favour of building at the Global Transportation Hub for a more lucrative offer.

Land development costs in the GTH, which happens to be managed by the provincial government, were reported to be significantly lower than in Westerra. Ultimately, this led the City of Regina into a competition with the province.

If Costco accepts the City’s offer, the money will be taken from Regina Land Development Reserve. The city expects that the money will be paid back within seven years through property taxes.

The NDP are calling on the Sask. Party government to appolagize for “robbing Regina taxpayers of nearly $7 million and risking a much-needed second Costco location for the region.”