Canadian Taxpayers Federation commissioned poll places spending control in laps of leadership contenders

Detailed poll results

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released today the results of an Ipsos-Reid poll showing that 58 per cent of Albertans support provincial legislation that would restrict annual growth in provincial government spending.

The poll, commissioned by the CTF, surveyed 800 Albertans (18 and over) between October 17-22, 2006, asking them the question:

Would you support or oppose legislation in Alberta that would restrict annual growth in provincial government program spending to some measure such as the rate of inflation and the rate of population growth

Results:

Strongly support - 22%
Somewhat support - 35%

Support - 58%

Somewhat oppose - 21%
Strongly oppose - 17%

Oppose - 38%

DK/NS - 5%

The poll is accurate to +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.


"These results clearly show that Albertans want wild increases in provincial spending to end," stated CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig.

The Alberta government has increased program spending by 11.9, 13.2, and 8.2 per cent annually over the past three years, while combined population and inflation rate growth has only increased by 3.1, 4.5, and 6.4 per cent during the same period.

Had the Alberta government introduced legislation tying spending to population and inflation in 2004, they would only be spending $24.6-billion this fiscal year rather than the record-high $29.4-billion.

"The current trend of annual double digit spending increases is unsustainable," continued Hennig. "It's clear the government won't do it voluntarily, so a legislated cap is the only answer."



On October 24, 2006 the Canadian Taxpayers Federation released A Taxpayers Platform: Advice and Questions for Alberta's PC Leadership Candidates. Candidates were posed 16 questions in the areas of taxation, spending, democratic and health care reform.

Question 7: Will you commit to introduce legislation capping annual provincial spending increases at a rate of the combined growth in the inflation and population rate

The candidates' responses will be published later this month in a sequel document. Responses are due November 8th.

"We now know where Albertans are on this issue, it's now up to our PC leadership candidates to tell us where they are," concluded Hennig. "We will also be asking the same of the other party leaders in the lead-up to a provincial election."

According to a 2003 Fraser Institute study, 27 US states have some form of expenditure limitation.

A copy of the full detailed poll results can be found by clicking here or by contacting the Alberta office at 1-800-661-0187.