Jean vows to trim $2.6B quickly, but offers few specifics on cuts
Leadership hopeful would also lower business taxes, join carbon tax challenge
Brian Jean announced his economic policy Tuesday, promising $2.6 billion in immediate cuts if elected but offering few specifics on which government services he would slash or provincial employees he’ll fire to account for those savings.
At a news conference in the city’s downtown, Jean promised to freeze salaries, not fill positions left by retiring workers and fire managers. He specifically mentioned Alberta Health Services as one area where he wants to reduce management, but offered no other information on which government departments he’ll target if elected premier.
“The plan I’m releasing today includes $2.6 billion in immediate operational spending reductions, controlling all costs across the public sector so we can freeze and reduce spending,” Jean said.
“This includes thinning out the ranks of managers managing managers managing more managers across government through attrition.”
Jean did offer specifics in other areas, promising to reduce the business tax from 12 per cent to 10 per cent over two years, eliminate the carbon tax and join Brad Wall’s government in Saskatchewan to launch a constitutional challenge against the federal government’s carbon tax.
Jean’s plan is largely rehashed from the 2017 budget recommendations of the Wildrose party, of which he was the leader until Monday when he stepped down to run for the leadership of the United Conservative Party.
Jean’s podium was emblazoned with the words “A New Alberta Advantage,” a reference to Ralph Klein’s 1993 throne speech “Promoting the Alberta Advantage,” which promised low taxes and less regulation in an attempt to attract business to the province.
Jean is promising to cut onethird of all government regulations, including Bill 6, the controversial farm safety legislation that requires agricultural operations to provide injury coverage for their workers.
He also says he’ll eliminate the cap on oilsands emissions if elected.
Although Jason Kenney is expected to announce he’s entering the race Saturday, there’s currently only one other candidate formally in the race to lead the United Conservative Party, Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer. Schweitzer harshly criticized Jean’s plan on Tuesday, focusing on the fact Jean is planning on keeping some NDP tax increases in place.
“Brian Jean’s proposal doesn’t get the job done. Albertans need immediate tax relief. Keeping the NDP tax hikes on families is unacceptable and that’s why we are proposing the immediate repeal of the NDP’s tax hikes and further tax relief for all Albertans,” said Schweitzer.
Jean is promising to balance the budget within three years. Once that happens, he’ll institute a child tax credit similar to the one the NDP have targeted to low-income families, except his will be available for all Albertans regardless of wealth.
While much of Jean’s plan is focused on how he’ll help the energy sector, he also spends some time on the forestry industry.
He pitched expanding the harvest of older trees in an attempt to spur growth in an industry that is currently embroiled in trade tensions with the United States.
Asked about Richard Starke, the Tory MLA who announced on that Monday he would not join the United Conservative Party over concerns about the new party’s stance on gay-straight alliances and the Edmonton Pride parade, Jean said he hopes Starke will reconsider and, if he does, there’ll be a place for him in the party if Jean is leader.
When asked specifically whether he’d march in the Edmonton Pride parade, Jean said: “I’m open to marching in any parade.”
This includes thinning out the ranks of managers managing managers managing more managers across government through attrition.