REDFORD TORIES SIGNAL TAX HIKES ON EVERYONE

EDMONTON, AB (November 21, 2011): Debt is on the rise, the savings are draining fast, the deficit is growing – and now the Redford Tories are committing to raising taxes on everybody, starting with reinstating a $1,000 a year tax on every Alberta family.

Earlier today, after releasing the government’s second quarter fiscal update, Finance Minister Ron Liepert and Treasury Board President Doug Horner strongly signaled the 2012 budget will bring back the $88 a month health care premiums in order to reduce Alberta’s cash shortfall, which now sits at $5.9 billion.

“There can be no doubt any longer – the Redford Tories are tax-and-spend Liberals,” Finance Critic Rob Anderson said. “They’re spending our children’s savings, they’re racking up debt to pay for their spending, and now they plan on paying for it by raising taxes on everybody. This is a classic tax-and-spend Liberal approach.”

The fiscal update showed $1.8 billion in debt (a $1.1 billion increase over first quarter), a $9 billion drop in the Sustainability Fund from its high of $17 billion, and an overall deficit increase of $1.8 billion over the first quarter update.

The rosy fiscal picture painted by the first quarter fiscal update was boosted by an intentionally inflated oil price projection as the Tories headed into the homestretch of its leadership election.

“We knew they torqued the first quarter update for political reasons and with this update we can see that,” Anderson said. “With recent musings of a Provincial Sales Tax and now this confirmation that health care premiums will soon be back, Albertans should get ready for the Redford Tories to hit their wallets hard.”

The Wildrose Caucus stands for free enterprise, less government, increased personal freedom and democracy.

-  30 -