• Taxpayers Federation compiles 11 day pre-election Spend-O-Meter

Pre-election Spend-O-Meter (January 31, 2008)
Spend-O-Meter (February 1, 2008)

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released an eleven day compilation of spending announcements from the Alberta government totalling $1,259,695,435.

"Announcing nearly $1.3-billion in new spending over eleven days works out to $115-million per day or $4.7-milion every single hour," stated CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig.

"Politicians of all stripes tend to pork-barrel right before an election, but this dollar amount is unprecedented in Alberta," continued Hennig.

In the two weeks leading-up to the 2004 election spending announcements roughly totalling $89-million were made and in 2001 it was $136-million (not including the $852-million natural gas rebate to Albertans).

"Albertans expect this type of politicking from Federal Liberals, not a so-called 'conservative' government in Alberta," concluded Hennig. "This government should be ashamed of their reckless spending levels; already the highest per capita in Canada."

The CTF's 2008 Pre-Election Spend-O-Meter can be found on-line HERE

Throughout the 2008 Alberta Provincial election, the CTF provided regular updates which are listed below. This included our "Spend-o-meter" which provided an update of the spending promises:

• All parties respond to CTF questionnaire
• A present for our next premier
• Costed out platforms welcomed by CTF
• PC Party responds to CTF's platform costing request
• Provincial election spend-o-thon
• Clearing the air on health care premiums
• Healthcare Premium Victory
• Pre-election spending spree tops $1.3 billion
• Spend-o-Meter (Jan 31, 2008)
• Spend-o-Meter (Feb 1, 2008)