http://calgaryherald.com/news/politi...s-years-budget
PCs promise 'no more tax hikes for 10 years', after rolling out tax hikes to health, fuel and restorative services (alcohol). I have two issues with this. The first is, this government must think the average voter to be a particularly stupid breed of peasant. The ink isn't even dry on the tax hikes, and we are supposed to be grateful for no 'new' tax hikes, simply because it is the last statement that was uttered.
The second is, that this is a fairly transparent way of saying that there is not going to be any discussion of corporate tax hikes, or royalty review, for the next 10 years. Any time the issue arises in the media, or in legislature, the government can cite this decision and claim that they are stoically and unwaveringly keeping to their promise of no new taxes. I sense some ridiculous Atticus Finch poses in Prentices future.
If I were running as a Liberal, I would be all over this, treating as a misstep, and not allowing the PCs to cloak this maneuver in an air of 'responsibility'.
I was actually grudgingly hopeful for a few months when Prentice took power.