The transportation and works critic wants answers as to why the provincial government is spending nearly $40-million more for a new mental health facility.

Barry Petten is raising questions about how the successful bidder was chosen, even though their bid came in $39-million more than the other bidder. He wants government to release the associated documents.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure says because financial close has not yet been reached, details like the ranking of submissions and net present values, cannot be disclosed. Financial close is expected to be reached sometime this month.

In the meantime, the department says politicians had no role in the evaluation of proposals and the RFP process prevents lobbying by proponents to elected officials.