The cost of promoting Alberta at the Olympics in London is now at a whopping $1-million.

Travel Alberta says it spent $400,000 in addition to what the province spent to send a group to the summer games.

Travel Alberta’s C.E.O. is defending the money, saying they’re funded separately through a tourism tax.

He tells The Calgary Herald the money spent was to protect millions of dollars worth of business.

Many have slammed the Alison Redford government for wasteful spending after half a million dollars was shelled out for the Olympics including more than $100,000 on unused hotel rooms.

Critics are questioning shelling out the money, when the province faces a $3-billion deficit this year.