- Seeks commitments on lower taxes, spending limits, democratic and health reform

Backgrounder

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released today a document entitled: A Taxpayers' Platform: Advice and Questions for Alberta's PC Leadership Candidates.

A Taxpayers' Platform highlights key issues of importance to the CTF, its supporters and many Alberta taxpayers. Moreover, it poses 16 questions to the eight PC leadership candidates, providing each with an opportunity to respond and have their responses published in a sequel CTF document to be released in mid-November.

Some of the key questions include:

• Will you commit to eliminate the health care premium tax
• Will you commit to introduce legislation capping annual provincial spending increases at a rate of the combined growth in the inflation and population rate
• Will you commit to legislating a minimum of 50 per cent of resource revenues be saved each year
• Will you commit to introduce legislation giving citizens the right to recall their MLA
• Will you commit to disclose a complete list and dollar amount of all campaign contributions you have received during this PC leadership campaign prior to the first ballot vote
• Will you commit to give Albertans the ability to purchase private health insurance to cover costs incurred by those who pay for timely access to medically necessary procedures

"Albertans are looking for a leader who is willing to answer the tough questions and take action in the areas of tax relief, spending sustainability and control, democratic reform and health care sustainability," said CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig. "That is why we felt it so important to get these questions out there. Albertans want to know where their future premier is taking them."

"A Taxpayers' Platform is not only about questioning PC leadership candidates, but also providing them with advice and information on issues few, if any, have publicly taken positions on to date," concluded Hennig.

Copies of Taxpayers' Platform can be found on-line by clicking here or by contacting the Alberta office at 1-800-661-0187.