EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released the results of a supporter survey on what the Alberta government should do with its oil-and-gas revenues, and with money that is no longer needed for debt servicing costs. CTF supporters in Alberta were asked: "The Alberta government receives $4 billion per year (on average) from the sale of oil and gas. In percentage terms, what should be done with this money " Taking the average from over 400 returned surveys, CTF supporters responded as follows:

• 40% returned to taxpayers through income tax refunds/rebates
  
• 29% spent on government programs
  
• 12% annual dividend paid out to every Albertan (whether they paid income tax or not)
  
• 11% put into Heritage Fund for future generations
  8% othe
  

Currently, the Alberta government spends 100% of oil and gas revenues on government programs.

CTF supporters were also asked: "When Alberta is debt-free, the government will no longer spend a portion of our tax dollars on debt servicing costs. Between lower taxes and increased spending on government programs, how should these savings be divided " Averaging the survey results, CTF supporters responded as follows:

• 68% to tax cuts
  
• 32% to more spending on government programs
  

The views of CTF supporters on taxes are similar to the views expressed by Albertans in province-wide surveys in 1998 and 2000, when Albertans declared a definitive preference for tax cuts over spending increases.

CTF supporters were also asked which provincial taxes should be a priority for reduction or elimination, ranking "1" for the highest priority down to "6" for lowest priority. The aggregate results from over 400 returned surveys were as follows:

• 2.1 (out of 6) personal income tax (highest priority for reduction/elimination)
  
• 2.9 (out of 6) health care premium tax
  
• 3.1 (out of 6) school property tax
  
• 3.2 (out of 6) fuel tax
  
• 3.4 (out of 6) business/corporate income tax
  
• 5.9 (out of 6) alcohol and tobacco taxes (lowest priority for reduction/elimination)
  

"No one spends someone else's money as wisely as he spends his own. That's why this money from the sale of oil and gas would be better spent by Albertans than by politicians," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.