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Alberta Provincial Tax Increases Still In Place

Author: John Carpay 2004/06/20
Tax Freedom Day for Albertans comes later than in 2001

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today responded to the news that Tax Freedom Day for Albertans has moved back six days since last year.

Each year the Fraser Institute releases its calculation of total taxes paid by Canadians to their federal, provincial and municipal governments. In 2004, the average Canadian works from January 1 to June 27 to pay for three levels of government, and starts working for herself on June 28.

When the Liberals took office in 1993, Canada's Tax Freedom Day fell on June 10. In 2001, Tax Freedom Day fell on June 25. In 2004 it falls on June 28.

When projected oil and gas revenues are counted as tax revenues, Tax Freedom Day for Albertans moves from June 19 in 2003 to June 13 in 2004 - a gain of six days. This gain is based on lower oil and gas revenues - $4.8 billion projected for 2004-05 - compared to estimated oil and gas revenues of $7.4 billion in the 2003-04 fiscal year.

When oil and gas revenues are removed from the equation, Alberta's Tax Freedom Day fell on June 5 in 2004 - the same date as in 2003. This means taxes are higher than in 2001, when Tax Freedom Day for Albertans fell on June 1.

Premier Klein raised provincial taxes by $541 million in 2002, increasing the health care premium tax, taxes on alcohol and tobacco, and licenses and fees.

In spite of small tax cuts in the 2003 and 2004 budgets, most of the tax increases imposed in 2002 are still in place.

"Premier Klein should keep his pre-election promise - that the only way taxes would go is down - and fully reverse the tax increases he imposed in 2002," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

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Franco Terrazzano
Federal Director at
Canadian Taxpayers
Federation

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