From Danielle Smith:
"Dear Friend
Last night, Alberta Premier Alison Redford took to the airwaves to explain how she and her government got Alberta’s budget so wrong. Her eight minute, taxpayer-funded broadcast tried to blame Alberta’s budgeting woes on what she has called Alberta’s “bitumen bubble”.
Albertans who tuned in to see what their tax dollars paid for last night were left dismayed that our province, with its abundant natural resources, strong economic growth, and low unemployment rate, is still unable to pay its bills and make ends meet.
Surely something must have happened to transform our province from an economic engine into a fiscal basket case. According to Premier Redford, that “something” is the price differential between North American oil prices, and the discount at which Alberta bitumen sells because of a lack of transportation and refining capacity. To listen to the Premier last night, this price differential must have exploded over the past three months, from when she said Alberta would return to surplus next year, to last night’s admission of a $5 billion revenue shortfall. Surely that same price differential couldn’t have existed during last spring’s provincial election where the Premier and her team promised billions in new spending and a fast return to balanced budgets.
But here’s what the Premier didn’t tell you in her speech. That price differential between the North American benchmark price of oil and what Alberta receives per barrel stands today at $36.85 per barrel. On February 9th, 2012, the day that Alison Redford’s PC government released their last budget, the price differential was $36.24 per barrel! That’s right, the differential which is always fluctuating is today almost exactly where it was on budget day.
During the election she promised no debt, no deficits, no tax increases and billions in new spending, and she has now broken or is about to break every one of those promises. With all of these broken promises, not to mention the regular ethical scandals being investigated as we speak, is it any wonder why Albertans have lost all trust in this PC Government?
Today, the Premier continues her media offensive, talking about tough choices and conversations about our fiscal future. She implied this morning that her government would be looking to find savings by cutting back on doctors and teachers – front line services which are already stretched across the province. Rather than scaling back on corporate welfare, cutting politician pay and perks, cancelling vanity projects like refurbishing MLA offices, or thinning the ranks of Alberta’s bloated bureaucracy, Premier Redford seems intent on balancing the budget on the backs of Alberta families. Crowded classrooms and endless waits in hospitals appear to be on the horizon as this Premier finally accepts the reality of her reckless decisions.
Wildrose has always maintained that Premier Redford’s revenue projections for oil were overly optimistic. Many private sector forecasters projected lower oil prices for Alberta, but were completely ignored by the PC government. Our Balanced Budget and Savings plan outlined a fiscally responsible, achievable plan to pay for vital services like education and health care while moving Alberta back to the black. Shortly, we will unveil a ten-year debt-free capital plan which will show how we can build vital infrastructure without pushing Alberta back into debt. Finally, we continue to produce alternative budgets which chart a responsible course for our province’s finances.
Like you, I believe that the future remains bright for Alberta, and that our economic fundamentals remain solid. The only thing standing between us and long-term prosperity is an incompetent PC government who lurches from crisis to crisis. Wildrose will continue to offer realistic proposals to meet our province’s challenges, all within the context of a balanced budget. As always, we believe that any government needs to live within its means, and put the best interests of its citizens first."
Thank you for your continued support.
Best regards,
Danielle Smith
Leader of Wildrose
Leader of the Official Opposition
"Dear Friend
Last night, Alberta Premier Alison Redford took to the airwaves to explain how she and her government got Alberta’s budget so wrong. Her eight minute, taxpayer-funded broadcast tried to blame Alberta’s budgeting woes on what she has called Alberta’s “bitumen bubble”.
Albertans who tuned in to see what their tax dollars paid for last night were left dismayed that our province, with its abundant natural resources, strong economic growth, and low unemployment rate, is still unable to pay its bills and make ends meet.
Surely something must have happened to transform our province from an economic engine into a fiscal basket case. According to Premier Redford, that “something” is the price differential between North American oil prices, and the discount at which Alberta bitumen sells because of a lack of transportation and refining capacity. To listen to the Premier last night, this price differential must have exploded over the past three months, from when she said Alberta would return to surplus next year, to last night’s admission of a $5 billion revenue shortfall. Surely that same price differential couldn’t have existed during last spring’s provincial election where the Premier and her team promised billions in new spending and a fast return to balanced budgets.
But here’s what the Premier didn’t tell you in her speech. That price differential between the North American benchmark price of oil and what Alberta receives per barrel stands today at $36.85 per barrel. On February 9th, 2012, the day that Alison Redford’s PC government released their last budget, the price differential was $36.24 per barrel! That’s right, the differential which is always fluctuating is today almost exactly where it was on budget day.
During the election she promised no debt, no deficits, no tax increases and billions in new spending, and she has now broken or is about to break every one of those promises. With all of these broken promises, not to mention the regular ethical scandals being investigated as we speak, is it any wonder why Albertans have lost all trust in this PC Government?
Today, the Premier continues her media offensive, talking about tough choices and conversations about our fiscal future. She implied this morning that her government would be looking to find savings by cutting back on doctors and teachers – front line services which are already stretched across the province. Rather than scaling back on corporate welfare, cutting politician pay and perks, cancelling vanity projects like refurbishing MLA offices, or thinning the ranks of Alberta’s bloated bureaucracy, Premier Redford seems intent on balancing the budget on the backs of Alberta families. Crowded classrooms and endless waits in hospitals appear to be on the horizon as this Premier finally accepts the reality of her reckless decisions.
Wildrose has always maintained that Premier Redford’s revenue projections for oil were overly optimistic. Many private sector forecasters projected lower oil prices for Alberta, but were completely ignored by the PC government. Our Balanced Budget and Savings plan outlined a fiscally responsible, achievable plan to pay for vital services like education and health care while moving Alberta back to the black. Shortly, we will unveil a ten-year debt-free capital plan which will show how we can build vital infrastructure without pushing Alberta back into debt. Finally, we continue to produce alternative budgets which chart a responsible course for our province’s finances.
Like you, I believe that the future remains bright for Alberta, and that our economic fundamentals remain solid. The only thing standing between us and long-term prosperity is an incompetent PC government who lurches from crisis to crisis. Wildrose will continue to offer realistic proposals to meet our province’s challenges, all within the context of a balanced budget. As always, we believe that any government needs to live within its means, and put the best interests of its citizens first."
Thank you for your continued support.
Best regards,
Danielle Smith
Leader of Wildrose
Leader of the Official Opposition
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