EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today responded to the release of a province-wide survey which seeks Albertans' input on taxes and government spending. This will be the third survey of Albertans' fiscal views in six years.

In the 1998 "Talk it up, Talk it out" survey, Albertans were asked to rank the importance of debt repayment, tax cuts, increased spending on government programs, and savings in the Heritage Fund. Converted into a 100-point index of importance, Albertans' priorities were debt repayment (75 points), then tax cuts (61 points), then increased spending (56 points), and then more savings in the Heritage Fund (19 points). The results of the 2000 "It's your money" survey were similar, with tax cuts scoring 73 points, and increased spending a distant second at 44 points.

Premier Klein reduced personal income tax and corporate income tax in 2001, but raised the health care premium tax and other taxes in 2002. Most of the tax increases imposed in 2002 still remain in place, in spite of small tax cuts in 2003 and 2004.

Spending on government programs is up 75% in eight years, from $12.7 billion in 1996-97 to $22.3 billion in 2004-05.

"Premier Klein has largely ignored Albertans' views on taxes and spending, as expressed on province-wide surveys in 1998 and 2000. Albertans have twice told their premier that tax cuts are more important than spending increases, but their views have been ignored," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

"Spending tax dollars on another province-wide survey is worthwhile only if Premier Klein implements what Albertans want," continued Carpay.

"Premier Klein's record of implementing province-wide surveys is zero out of two. Will he strike out a third time " concluded Carpay.