New data shows Alberta spends the lowest amount of money per inmate in Canada — a number the province says is value for money but critics label short-sighted and worrisome.

The numbers, published by Statistics Canada earlier this month, show Alberta spends $193 per day per inmate.

Saskatchewan spends $199.

Almost every other province and territory puts in over $300.

The numbers account for costs like salaries for guards and life necessities for inmates. They apply only to correctional centres, rema…