The Third Quarter Fiscal Update reveals that the Alberta Government receives revenues of $8,000 for every man, woman and child in Alberta. Total revenues for the 2003-04 fiscal year are projected to be $25.3 billion. This includes:

• $7.4 billion from oil and gas
  
• $4.6 billion from personal income tax
  
• $1.8 billion from corporate income tax
  
• $1.2 billion from alcohol and tobacco taxes
  
• $1.2 billion from provincial property tax
  
• $1.1 billion from VLTs and lotteries
  
• just under $1 billion in income from the Heritage Fund
  
• just under $1 billion in health care premium taxes
  

The tax increases of 2002 remain in place, in spite of Premier Klein's promise that "the only way taxes are going is down."

Alberta continues to be the biggest spender, per person, in Canada. Spending on government programs is up by 71% in seven years, while Alberta's population grew only 14% during the same time period. Most of this money has gone to public sector workers like nurses, MLAs, teachers and doctors, who get wage increases far higher than workers in the private sector.

Even with $25.3 billion flowing into General Revenues - $8,000 for every Albertan - the government continues to gouge Alberta families with $1,056 in health care premium taxes.

An Alberta family with children, earning only $34,250 per year, must pay $1,056 in health care premium taxes each year, in addition to other provincial and federal taxes.

An individual earning just $16,000 must pay $528 in health care premium taxes. Alberta has the fairest and most family-friendly personal income tax regime in Canada, yet some low-income Albertans pay more health care premium tax than personal income tax.

In the 2003-04 fiscal year, the government will take $923 million from Albertans through this tax, all of which flows into General Revenues. These "health care premiums" don't pay for health care any more (or less) than other taxes do.

One does not need to be "low-income" to suffer hardship from having to pay the health care premium tax. Families with children who are getting by on $40,000 or $50,000 per year also find that an additional tax bill of $1,056 takes a significant bite out of the family budget.

The health care premium tax is an obstacle to health care reform. That's because this tax sends the message that our health care system costs only $44 per month, or $88 per month for families. In fact, the health care system costs more than eight times as much.

Further, the health care premium tax costs $13 million per year to collect. That's enough money to purchase four MRI machines.

The Third Quarter Fiscal Update paints a picture of a greedy government, run by a Premier who is severely addicted to spending other people's money.

When was the last time that it occurred to Premier Klein and the other 82 MLAs that it's not their money

With the Alberta Government taking in $8,000 per Albertan, now is the time for tax cuts. Albertans deserve to keep more of their own earnings. After all, it's our money.