Alberta has been the preeminent leader in fiscal responsibility in Canada over the past few years, balancing its budgets, reducing its debt, and providing moderate tax cuts to its citizens. Lately, however, the province seems to have abandoned the principles that once brought it accolades from taxpayers. Spending has spiraled out of control at a dramatic rate, debt reduction has become a lower priority and Albertans have been denied tax cuts in the face of ever growing surpluses. The Post s commentary may seem acerbic, but it is also correct. The gains made by the province over the last few years must not be allowed to erode.
Taxpayers deserve a dividend and they deserve to have it now.
This submission outlines our proposals for Budget 2000 to ensure that the first budget of the new century is truly a Taxpayers Budget that benefits all Albertans. It s time to return to those ideals. The government of Alberta is quickly developing a spending problem. Over the last five years program spending has increased by 29 percent. Revenues have not kept pace with these spending increases.