EDMONTON: Responding to the Alberta Government's Annual Report for 2004-05, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) pointed out that Albertans would not be paying provincial income tax today, if politicians had placed limits on growth in spending.

Spending on government programs in 1996-97 was $12.7 billion. Nine years later, spending on government programs in 2005-06 is $25.5 billion - an increase of 100%. During this same nine-year period, Alberta's population grew only 17%, and cumulative inflation was only 27%.

"If politicians had limited growth in spending to Alberta's population growth and inflation, we would not be paying any provincial income tax, nor would families be paying the health care premium tax," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

"Alberta families struggle every month to stay within their household budgets. Why aren't politicians doing the same, by staying within set limits " asked Carpay.

Alberta's revenues (per person) and spending on government programs (per person) remains the highest in Canada:

Program spending per person, 2004-05

Alberta $7,500
B.C. $6,970
Quebec $6,269
Manitoba $6,190
Saskatchewan $6,165
Ontario $5,617

Revenues, per person, 2004-05

Alberta $9,223
B.C. $7,600
Quebec $7,158
Manitoba $6,480
Saskatchewan $6,623
Ontario $6,354


"If Alberta's conservatives brought their spending on government programs in line with Saskatchewan's socialist government, Albertans would not have to pay the health care premium tax, and provincial income tax could be reduced by one third," noted Carpay.

"This government continues to swim in money. It's time to return it to the taxpayers who earned it," concluded Carpay.