The Canadian Taxpayers Federation waded into the provincial election campaign this week in a bid to remind voters that campaign promises for $1 billion here and $400 million there can start to add up to real money.
The federation released its cost estimates for each of the major parties’ platforms to see what their promises mean in terms of spending increases, reductions and tax increases.
Scott Hennig, Alberta director for the group, said his party is looking for clear numbers on the promises so voters can understand the full implication of what parties are proposing.
“In reality people need to be able to assess whether these are legitimate promises that can actually be fulfilled and if these guys are credible with their platform.”
The federation found the NDP platform involved about $1.9 billion in new spending, along with nine of their promises that currently have no cost attached. That spending would be offset with $400 million in spending reductions and $3.5 billion in new taxes.
Those new taxes include an increase on wealthier Albertans, higher royalties and hikes to the province’s corporate tax rate.
Local candidate Nicole Bownes said the platform is about making sure Alberta works for everyone.
“The whole idea of our whole platform is that Alberta’s prosperity is shared by all Albertans.”
The Conservative platform calls for just over $1 billion in new spending, along with $500 million in new revenues and four promises that currently have no price tag attached.
Spruce Grove-St. Albert candidate Doug Horner, who is also treasury board president, said the costs of his party’s platform are fully borne out and the new promises won’t affect this year’s bottom line.
“These costs are not in this budget that we have passed, these are in out-year budgets.”
Horner said he is skeptical of the federation’s approach and believes they have bias toward the Wildrose.
The Liberal platform includes $820 million in new spending, $583 million in reductions and $3.4 billion in new taxes according to the federation, with just one price-tag-free promise.
Local Liberal candidate Kim Bugeaud, said she believes a fully-costed platform is essential to good governance. She said her party’s tax increase and spending cuts are about giving Albertans what they want.
“We are spending money on where the priorities of Albertans are.”
The Wildrose platform includes $308 million in new spending, $3.6 billion in reductions from reduced capital spending, MLA pay cuts and an end to the province’s carbon capture program, and with the tax rebates the party is offering, about $1 billion less would flow to government.
The party also has three promises the federation views as without a price tag.
Horner took aim at the Wildrose platform, saying he doesn’t believe it adds up. He argued the party would have to cut deeper than it is saying.
“The reality is the Wildrose haven’t told you what they are going to cut,” he said. “The only way to create surplus is to either cut capital or cut operating.”
Hennig said the important part about the exercise is making sure there are numbers behind the ideas.
“The promises may not be worth the paper it is written on unless it is included in part of a legitimate fiscal plan,” he said.
Hennig said he sees no reason for the province to have tax increases, but if they are going to do it, the number needs to be there.
“As much as I dislike the idea of the Liberals and the NDs promises to raise taxes and think it is bad policy, I greatly appreciate they have costed it.”
The Gazette was unable to contact Wildrose candidates for their thoughts on the federation release.
