Updated platform costings for each party can be found on-line at:
PC Party Spending Promises (February 24)
Liberal Party Spending Promises (February 29)
NDP Spending Promises (February 24)
Wildrose Alliance Party Spending Promises (February 24)


EDMONTON: In light of the provincial government's potential future financial troubles, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today commended the PC Party, Alberta Liberal Party and the Alberta NDP for taking steps towards costing out their election spending promises.

Since last Thursday, all three parties have released some form of financial information, indicating what most of their campaign promises will cost taxpayers.

The release of this information has been in response to a CTF request made earlier in the campaign. The CTF has continued to update each party's spending promises regularly through out the campaign on their website (www.taxpayer.com).

Unfortunately, there are still outstanding promises that remain uncosted for each party. For the Alberta Liberal Party, of their 82 spending promises 19 remain uncosted. For the PC Party, of their 36 spending promises, 11 remain uncosted. For the Wildrose Alliance, of their 5 spending promises, all 5 remain uncosted. And for the Alberta NDP, of their 28 promises, only 2 remain uncosted.

"Generally speaking, being upfront about the costs of electoral promises hasn't been the norm here in Alberta," stated CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig. "In light of past history, we are obviously pleased these parties have responded to our costing request."

However, the CTF notes this information is even more important this election as there is the real potential for the Alberta government to hit a fiscal wall in the next couple of years.

"The growth in government spending over the past couple of years has significantly outpaced the growth in government revenues," stated Hennig. "No matter who wins this election, a provincial budget is coming fast, and the next government is going to have to deal with shrinking surpluses, the fear of an economic downturn in North America, and potential deficit budgets unless spending is reigned in."

The CTF reminds voters the Alberta government increased program spending by over 17 percent in Budget 2007, while the last five budgets have had spending increases averaging over 12 percent per year. The CTF also notes according to the latest budget update total revenue is projected to come in lower for 2007-08 ($37.98-billion) than it did for 2006-07 ($38.02-billion).

Updated platform costings for each party can be found on-line at:
PC Party Spending Promises (February 24)
Alberta Liberal Party Spending Promises (February 24)
NDP Spending Promises (February 24)
Wildrose Alliance Party Spending Promises (February 24)

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)