• Liberals and Wildrose Alliance commit to control spending
• Wildrose Alliance only party to eliminate 3% hidden tax on insurance
• Opposition parties want fixed election dates
• All parties commit to save resource revenues

Alberta Election 2008 CTF Party Questionnaire

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released the results of a four question survey sent to the four major political parties in the 2008 provincial election.

Each party was given an opportunity to provide a written response to these four questions:

1. Would your party commit to introduce legislation capping annual program spending increases at the rate of the combined growth in the inflation and population rate
2. Would your party commit to introduce fixed election dates for Alberta's future general elections
3. Would your party commit to legislation requiring a minimum amount of non-renewable resource revenues be saved each year If so, what amount
4. Would you commit to eliminate the hidden sales tax on insurance premiums

"We're pleased both the Alberta Liberals and Wildrose Alliance have committed to legislated spending caps, as it's become clear spending needs to be seriously controlled here in Alberta," stated CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig.

An October 2006 Ipsos-Reid poll showed that 6 in 10 Albertans support provincial legislation that would restrict annual growth in provincial government spending.

"Not only is spending control legislation necessary to ensure taxes don't rise or deficits aren't run, but the polls show it could also be a political winner," continued Hennig.

"In light of suggestions the price of car insurance could be on the rise due to rising claim costs, we were hoping more parties would firmly commit to eliminate the hidden 3 percent sales tax on insurance premiums," said Hennig.

The hidden insurance sales tax in Alberta adds $247-million to Alberta government coffers each year.

Each party's response to the CTF questionnaire can be found on-line at:

Alberta Election 2008 CTF Party Questionnaire

Alberta Election 2008

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)