EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today called on Premier Klein to refrain from spending $85,000 for another televised speech. Since 1994, the annual broadcasting of a pre-recorded speech by Premier Klein has taken place in late January. Last year's televised speech cost taxpayers about $85,000.

In a letter to Premier Klein, CTF-Alberta director John Carpay writes:

On behalf of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), please accept my best wishes for 2005, for you and for your government. The CTF has often praised your government's policies in the past (eg. debt repayment, Sustainability Fund, single-rate income tax, liquor privatization, lowest provincial taxes in Canada, etc.) and we hope to do so in future as well.

On this occasion, I am writing to request that you not spend taxpayers' money on another annual televised speech, for the following reasons:

You are able to communicate directly to Albertans every day, through all forms of media. Media will readily print, broadcast and televise any comments or announcements you make, particularly when it concerns public policy, so there is not need to televise a pre-recorded speech.

Your Public Affairs Bureau creates and manages the government's messages to Albertans, and is able to send out news releases whenever you or your ministers have something to announce.

The Throne Speech is the appropriate vehicle for articulating the government's vision, goals and policies. There is no need for a televised address when the Throne Speech is available to communicate the government's public policy agenda.

Having read your speeches from previous years, it seems they all say the same thing: Alberta is winning the war against debt, and now the government will spend even more tax dollars on health, education and infrastructure. This is a message which you and your ministers communicate to Albertans year-round. It does not need to be televised at taxpayers' expense.

"If Premier Klein has something to say to Albertans, he can call a press conference, put it in the Throne Speech, or have the Public Affairs Bureau send out a news release. Any of these methods will produce the same result: the media will gladly report on his announcement - without costing taxpayers a penny," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

"Taxpayers' money would be better spent on hiring an extra nurse or teacher, or left in the pockets of Albertans who earned it," added Carpay.