The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says they are getting no satisfaction from the province when it comes to information about cost overruns for government-funded paving contracts.

The federation says the provincial government has not been able to provide “basic information” about the situation, including the specific causes and frequency of such overruns.

The organization filed an access-to-information request to find out how many contracts go over budget, and how often those contracts are extended.

But they say government replied that they couldn’t provide that information because they don’t keep track of it. Instead, officials said they would charge the organization $7,000 for the information, which could take a year to compile and provide.

Taxpayers federation Atlantic director Devin Drover calls it “unbelievable” that government doesn’t know how much it is paying out, and calls it “absolutely outrageous” that they would charge thousands of dollars and take a year to check invoices that they should “already be watching like a hawk.”

The federation has asked the Information and Privacy Commissioner review the case.