NDP critic questions UCP tax cuts plans

Members of the Alberta NDP have voiced concern over a recently disclosed FOIP request regarding the UCP government’s promise on a tax cut which they say has “troubling implications for Albertans.”

“We’re talking about a clear demonstration of deceit. Danielle Smith campaigned on a promise” to provide a tax cut to Albertans,” Finance Critic for Fiscal Responsibility Samir Kayande of the NDP told media Tuesday.

Kayande said after Albertans trusted the UCP with their votes, it’s become clear the UCP had no intention of fulfilling its promise of a tax cut, calling it a broken promise.

Kayande said after a FOIP request the NDP obtained one page of a six-page briefing note addressed to finance minister Nate Horner.

“Giving them a tax cut was never mentioned,” said Kayande.

“The UCP continues to lie and have not addressed the affordability crisis Albertans face,” says Kayande.

“It doesn’t take a political scientist to know that in order to implement a billion dollar pledge, it would require a little more documentation than a measly six-page briefing note.”

He said NDP would not make promises they could not fulfill.

“NDP ran their election promises based on a strategic plan with real intention. We couldn’t talk about giving them (Albertans) a major tax cut, in addition to fixing the health care and education system, but if we did it would have been irresponsible.

“These Albertans have the right to an informed choice, Albertans exercised their democratic right to choose based on their data, they made their choice. Under the promises they trust.”

The government issued the following statement after a request for comment by The Herald:

“We are keeping out election commitment to introduce an eight per cent tax bracket on the first $60,000 of income. This will save each Albertan up to $760, and will come into effect in 2027. The NDP ran on increasing taxes, and Albertans believed them,” said Justin Brattinga, senior press secretary of the Alberta government in response.