EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today delivered petitions with the signatures of 4,254 Albertans to Premier Klein's office at the Legislature. The petition campaign, against increasing health care premiums or any other tax, was started only four weeks ago. Petitions continue to circulate throughout Alberta, and a second batch will be presented to the Premier's Office in mid-March prior to the provincial budget.

The campaign was started after Premier Klein announced in January that health care premiums, currently $408 per year for individuals and $816 for families, would go up by as much as 40%. Prior to the 2001 provincial election, Premier Klein promised Albertans that "the only way taxes are going in this province is down."

"Health care premiums simply go into general revenues, no different from fuel tax, tobacco tax, income tax, and every other tax. Health care premiums don't pay for health care. They are simply a tax with an attractive name," said CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

"Anyone who suggests that health care premiums are not a tax should try not paying, and see what happens. The government will seize your car, put a lien on your property, garnish your wages, and go after your bank account - no different from a failure to pay any other tax," added Carpay.

"Alberta already spends more on government programs, per person, than any other province in Canada. Revenues from oil and gas are much higher than the historical average. This is the last government in Canada which needs to increase taxes."