Provincial sales tax a necessary choice

Re: Oil price discount turns up heat on budget woes When the late Jim Prentice was asked who was responsible for the fiscal issues in Alberta, he said Albertans should look in the mirror. In other words, we are all responsible. Albertans had a hissy fit. But Prentice was right. Albertans want their public services, but refuse to let politicians make wise fiscal choices.

We need a provincial sales tax. A five per cent PST would generate $5 billion per year. That $5 billion per year would change the province’s future. We could fund public services and save resource revenue in an emergency fund. Could we find spending efficiencies? Of course. But not $5-billion worth, not without compromising services. The extra revenue must come from a PST.

But if any politician said they wanted to start a sales tax, Albertans would have another hissy fit. So instead of doing the wise thing, politicians continue to placate voters for political expediency. Andrew Torry, Calgary