EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today announced a new petition campaign against the tax increases proposed in the Graydon Report on Health Care Funding, which the Alberta Government released at the end of June.

The Graydon Report on Health Care Funding asks Premier Klein to consider four different tax increases:

• raise Alberta's provincial income tax from 10% to 12%
• double the health care premium tax from $1,056 per family to $2,112
• give Regional Health Authorities more taxing powers
• charge patients a "health care deductible" for using the system, in addition to the health care premium tax and other provincial taxes they already pay

In 2002, Premier Klein raised the health care premium tax to $1,056 for families, $528 for individuals. Annual revenues of $928 million from the health care premium tax go into General Revenues, like every other provincial tax.

"Albertans want real health care reform, not more tax increases," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

"Canada's Constitution gives provinces exclusive authority over hospitals, and provinces - not Ottawa - pay the majority of health care costs. The Canada Health Act should be amended to allow provinces to innovate better health care policies. Canadians should have the freedom to spend their own money on the health care of their choosing," added Carpay.

The petition, which is available from the CTF's Edmonton office and will be circulated throughout this summer, asks Premier Klein:

• Reject the tax increases recommended by the Graydon Report
• Abolish the health care premium tax because it is regressive, deceptive and unnecessary and costs $13 million per year just to collect it
• Push for changes to the Canada Health Act to allow provinces to innovate better health care policies

Petitions will be presented to Premier Klein when the Legislature resumes this Fall.