Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - April 23 2012: Alberta Provincial Election

kn · 04-08-2012, 10:19 PM

I decided to spend some time outlining what the four major parties have been promising us thus far. My sources were strictly their websites. This is not "platform" information, just what has been promised or brought to attention via press releases. I was surprised at some of the promises that have not garnered any media attention. I tried to be impartial but I'll admit that the WildRose has some slick PDFs that make it easy to find the information. The PC website is pretty good too. The NDP is lacking in cost information except for one press release and the Liberals are well behind in terms of the quality of information provided. I apologize in advance if I got any of the details wrong.

Edit: Here's a platform tracker which is pretty much what I was looking for. Hopefully it will be updated with promises as the election goes along.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...ker/index.html

Progressive Conservatives

increase to $20 million from $10 million for amateur sport organizations
Alberta Children’s Physical Activity Tax Credit of $500 at a cost of $36 million
Fast-track Emergency Rooms to reduce wait times
Expand access to local medical education (pilot project between University of Lethbridge and University of Calgary)
Expand and make permanent the Rural Integrated Community Clerkship Program
Seniors’ Activity Tax Credit of $500 at a cost of $24 million
50 new schools and upgrading for 70 more over the next four years at a cost of $2.4 billion
$200 million for the redevelopment of the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital
Funding for the Dunmore Road interchange in Medicine Hat
Guarantee that Albertans have the option to ask their local pharmacist to renew their prescriptions without having to visit a doctor
140 Family Care Clinics over the next three years
Seniors’ Property Tax Deferral Program
$150 million annual commitment to AOSTRA2 (Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority)
Create a Property Rights Advocate Office and review the Expropriation Act and Surface Rights Act

Wildrose

Balanced Budget and Savings Act
Cap increases in annual government spending to rate of inflation plus population growth
Reinstate mandatory balanced-budget legislation that the PCs repealed in 2009
Mandate that 50% of all cash surpluses be invested in the Heritage Fund
Prohibit government from transferring interest earned in the Heritage Fund into general revenues until annual earnings from the Fund surpass government revenues from oil and gas
$2000/child tax deduction phased in over two years after a $250 million cash surplus at a cost of $130 million
Banning all mandatory school fees in public, Catholic and public charter schools
$500 tax credit for children’s sports, arts, and cultural activities at a cost of $30 million/year
Alberta Energy Dividend
20% of surpluses over $750 million will be distributed (projected to be $1 billion by 2014-2015)
Alberta’s Patient Wait Time Guarantee ($180 million)
Albertans on wait lists longer than the Canadian Wait Time Alliance Benchmarks for 10 major health procedures may choose to have the procedure performed at a private facility in or out of province and have the procedure paid by Alberta Health Insurance
Allow for a mix and public and private health care delivery
Protection of Public Health Care Guarantee
Cancellation of the $2 billion Carbon Capture and Storage grant program

Liberals

$250 reduction in post-secondary tuition
Post Secondary Heritage Fund to phase out tuition by 2025
Pay greater of 5% or $1000 of student debt for every year the student stays in the province and works after graduation
$76 million/year for ESL
$100 million for early childhood education
$15 million for school lunch program
Strongest in the country guarantees for new homes and condos
3 years on defects in labour and materials
5 years on defects in the building envelope
10 years on structural defects

NDP

An extra $1.90 per barrel of bitumen in revenues through a new royalty system that gives companies who upgrade in Alberta a break
Require all new oilsands development to have plans for upgrading in Alberta
Set aside $1 billion to pay for services with the balance into the Heritage Fund
Increase taxes on wealthy Albertans while holding current taxes on others
Raise corporate tax by 2% while reducing taxes for small business by 33%
Cost $2,062,060,000; Revenue $3,008,000,000; Balance of $945,940,000 reinvested in Heritage Fund
1500 long-term care beds
$100 million for home care
Cap drug costs at $25/month
Boost annual funding for LRT and transit by 50% through Green TRIP
Funding for school boards to keep schools open in mature neighbourhoods
$50 million for New Beginnings Community Fund
$5000 interest free home retrofit loan

04-08-2012, 10:19 PM	#1285
kn #1 Goaltender Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Calgary Exp:	I decided to spend some time outlining what the four major parties have been promising us thus far. My sources were strictly their websites. This is not "platform" information, just what has been promised or brought to attention via press releases. I was surprised at some of the promises that have not garnered any media attention. I tried to be impartial but I'll admit that the WildRose has some slick PDFs that make it easy to find the information. The PC website is pretty good too. The NDP is lacking in cost information except for one press release and the Liberals are well behind in terms of the quality of information provided. I apologize in advance if I got any of the details wrong. Edit: Here's a platform tracker which is pretty much what I was looking for. Hopefully it will be updated with promises as the election goes along. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...ker/index.html Progressive Conservatives increase to $20 million from $10 million for amateur sport organizations Alberta Children’s Physical Activity Tax Credit of $500 at a cost of $36 million Fast-track Emergency Rooms to reduce wait times Expand access to local medical education (pilot project between University of Lethbridge and University of Calgary) Expand and make permanent the Rural Integrated Community Clerkship Program Seniors’ Activity Tax Credit of $500 at a cost of $24 million 50 new schools and upgrading for 70 more over the next four years at a cost of $2.4 billion $200 million for the redevelopment of the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital Funding for the Dunmore Road interchange in Medicine Hat Guarantee that Albertans have the option to ask their local pharmacist to renew their prescriptions without having to visit a doctor 140 Family Care Clinics over the next three years Seniors’ Property Tax Deferral Program $150 million annual commitment to AOSTRA2 (Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority) Create a Property Rights Advocate Office and review the Expropriation Act and Surface Rights Act Wildrose Balanced Budget and Savings Act Cap increases in annual government spending to rate of inflation plus population growth Reinstate mandatory balanced-budget legislation that the PCs repealed in 2009 Mandate that 50% of all cash surpluses be invested in the Heritage Fund Prohibit government from transferring interest earned in the Heritage Fund into general revenues until annual earnings from the Fund surpass government revenues from oil and gas $2000/child tax deduction phased in over two years after a $250 million cash surplus at a cost of $130 million Banning all mandatory school fees in public, Catholic and public charter schools $500 tax credit for children’s sports, arts, and cultural activities at a cost of $30 million/year Alberta Energy Dividend 20% of surpluses over $750 million will be distributed (projected to be $1 billion by 2014-2015) Alberta’s Patient Wait Time Guarantee ($180 million) Albertans on wait lists longer than the Canadian Wait Time Alliance Benchmarks for 10 major health procedures may choose to have the procedure performed at a private facility in or out of province and have the procedure paid by Alberta Health Insurance Allow for a mix and public and private health care delivery Protection of Public Health Care Guarantee Cancellation of the $2 billion Carbon Capture and Storage grant program Liberals $250 reduction in post-secondary tuition Post Secondary Heritage Fund to phase out tuition by 2025 Pay greater of 5% or $1000 of student debt for every year the student stays in the province and works after graduation $76 million/year for ESL $100 million for early childhood education $15 million for school lunch program Strongest in the country guarantees for new homes and condos 3 years on defects in labour and materials 5 years on defects in the building envelope 10 years on structural defects NDP An extra $1.90 per barrel of bitumen in revenues through a new royalty system that gives companies who upgrade in Alberta a break Require all new oilsands development to have plans for upgrading in Alberta Set aside $1 billion to pay for services with the balance into the Heritage Fund Increase taxes on wealthy Albertans while holding current taxes on others Raise corporate tax by 2% while reducing taxes for small business by 33% Cost $2,062,060,000; Revenue $3,008,000,000; Balance of $945,940,000 reinvested in Heritage Fund 1500 long-term care beds $100 million for home care Cap drug costs at $25/month Boost annual funding for LRT and transit by 50% through Green TRIP Funding for school boards to keep schools open in mature neighbourhoods $50 million for New Beginnings Community Fund $5000 interest free home retrofit loan Last edited by kn; 04-08-2012 at 10:50 PM.