Quantcast
Channel: Calgary Herald - RSS Feed
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 28462

Harper attack on Alberta government dismissed as election rhetoric by finance minister

$
0
0

Alberta’s finance minister laughed off Stephen Harper’s campaign trail attack on the province’s NDP government, calling it simple “electioneering.”

On Monday, Harper lambasted Premier Rachel Notley’s NDP government as a “disaster” for raising corporate taxes and income taxes on high-wage earners after upending the four-decade old Progressive Conservative dynasty in the May 5 provincial election.

But NDP Finance Minister Joe Ceci brushed away the Conservative leader’s comments and said he didn’t see any need to mix it up Harper.

“I’ve done my election. I’m here now. We’re governing and Albertans seem to like what we’re doing,” he said Tuesday.

“I’ll leave comments like Mr. Harper’s to the election campaign trail for people like that and just get on with the work that needs to be done.”

“He’s electioneering and trying to whip up all that sort of thing. What we’re doing is putting a sound fiscal plan in place for Alberta.”

The federal election is set for Oct. 19. Polls show a three-way dogfight between the Conservatives, NDP and Liberals as Harper launched an unprecedented 11-week campaign on Sunday.

The NDP’s breakthrough in Alberta is seen as a key factor in a recent surge for the federal party lead by Tom Mulcair.

In his comments, made in French, Harper accused Alberta’s NDP of being unable to bring forward its budget and said its policies had been rejected.

Ceci was at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce to formally begin consultations for the first provincial budget from the NDP government, which will be released sometime after the legislature sitting resumes on Oct. 26.

The budget released by the former PC government in March was never passed and the rookie government must deal with sluggish oil prices that have dipped under $50-a-barrel US.

Ceci said global oil prices are “a major concern” but suggested the deficit will be in the range of the $5-billion shortfall projected in the Tory budget.

He said ministers have been advised to constrain spending though targets have not yet been set.

“We know there is a challenge we have to address,” said Ceci.

“The parts of our programs and services that Albertans have indicated they want us to invest in, we have done that. We will need to look and restrain (spending) going forward. That may be the word you hear from me a lot in the next few months.”

Ceci said the government is not considering any other revenue measures beyond what it has already introduced.

Adam Legge, president of the chamber of commerce, said the mood in the room was cordial as Ceci met with 40 primarily small and mid-sized businesses.

He said there is some concern over the government’s intention to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2018. While there was no opposition voiced to the tax hike, there was a suggestion of a lower tax rate for smaller businesses, said Legge.

Legge said business does want the government to show restraint in spending.

“Really, they have to be minding the ship. No one is suggesting any massive cuts need to be made, but to live within our means, as business does,” he said.

“Efficiency should really be a focus.”

 

jwood@calgaryherald.com


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 28462

Latest Images

Trending Articles



Latest Images