Premier Klein's government continues to drift aimlessly towards the end of its third mandate. Spending has become the substitute for vision. Alberta families now pay $1,056 per year in health care premium taxes to finance double-digit pay increases for doctors, nurses, MLAs, provincial government employees, teachers, and other public sector workers. Health care premiums do not pay for health care, but go into general revenues like every other provincial tax. Here follow some examples of how Premier Klein spends Albertans' health care premiums and other provincial tax dollars:

spent on feel-good television and newspaper ads to promote Budget 2003-04. Alberta's radio, television and newspaper media already gave massive coverage to the budget, without costing taxpayers one cent. Albertans wanting more information on the budget can log on to the government's web site or call their MLA, and will do so without $230,000 worth of encouragement.

given to the Central Alberta Economic Partnership, $47,640 to the Northeast Alberta Information Hub, and $60,000 to the Grande Alberta Economic Region "to support sustainable regional economic development priorities." Good intentions are present here, no doubt. But businesses themselves are already looking for new markets and new resources - with or without the spending of tax dollars to promote a particular region. A new factory will be built in or near a city which has enough trained, qualified and specialized people to run that factory. No amount of networking or talk of ‘strategic alliances' will change that economic fact. Businesses will establish themselves close to their markets or close to their supplies or resources - regardless of nice web sites, friendly conferences and glossy brochures.

given to the Calgary Birth Control Association. Over-population myths - popular in the 1960s and 1970s - have been completely discredited. But even if these theories still have some adherents, organizations with an ideological axe to grind should get their funds from those who agree with them, not from taxpayers. Matters of family planning are personal decisions that Albertans can make for themselves, without seeing a portion of their hard-earned money going to finance one particular group with a particular agenda.

for the Crammond Community Centre in Caroline toward kitchen upgrades, and $50,000 for the Camrose Boys and Girls Club. Good causes, no doubt, but why don't the people in Camrose and Caroline pay for these things themselves? Perhaps they can't afford to do so, because as Canadians they lose 49% of their earnings to support three levels of government. Nevertheless, this is simply robbing Peter to pay Paul.

to the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association in Calgary towards implementation of a formal volunteer program. Communities would be stronger and healthier, and people could devote more time to volunteering, if Canadians didn't have to work from January 1 to June 27 to support three levels of government.

to the Lethbridge and District Humane Society for homeless and unwanted dogs and cats, and $23,720 to the Millwoods Cultural Society of Retired and Semi-Retired in Edmonton for a big screen television, library shelving and a computer system. Albertans who think these causes are worthy should contribute voluntarily, but taxpayers should be free to choose their own priorities in charitable giving.

to the Town and Country Kosy Korner Association in Nanton for furniture and "a public announcement system to increase community use of the facility." If the people of Nanton aren't willing to pay for their own Kosy Korner, and actually need to be persuaded to make more use of the facility, why should Albertans be forced to contribute with their taxes?

to the St. Albert Senior Citizens Club for a volunteer program "to enhance volunteer involvement." If they are volunteers, why do they need $34,000? If Alberta's seniors didn't have to pay tens of millions of dollars in provincial property taxes each year, they would have more money to contribute to the club of their choice.

Obviously the Alberta government needs to re-think its spending. Since 1996 Alberta's population has grown 14% but spending on government programs is up by 60%. If Premier Klein's government reduced its spending by just 4.5%, Alberta families wouldn't need to pay $1,056 in health care premium taxes each year. This tax could be eliminated entirely, and Alberta would still spend more (per person) than most other provinces in Canada.

To cut spending by 4.5%, the Alberta government needs to ask itself three questions before spending tax dollars on a program or project. First, is it really necessary for government to perform this task? Second, is it impossible for individuals, families, charities, faith-based groups, other voluntary associations, and the private sector to accomplish the goal? Third, is this program or project so important that it justifies taking money away from a young family? Only when the answers to these three questions are "yes," "yes," and "yes" should the government take money away from the Albertans who have earned it.

Spending is no substitute for vision. The government's vision should be to empower individuals, families and communities to pursue their own visions with their own money.