Candidate Q and A: carbon tax/climate change and balancing the budget

This is the final week the Cochrane Eagle will run Q & A with the five candidates for the Airdrie-Cochrane riding.

The questions we have run for the three weeks leading up to the election span a range of hot-button issues and this week we chose to focus on carbon tax/climate change and balancing the budget.

Each of these candidates took part in the political forum held by the Cochrane Eagle and Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce on April 9. The event drew a strong turnout and the organizers wish to thank each of the candidates for the hard work, as it is a tireless job to blaze the campaign trail.

The first question is a suggestion from one of our readers.

Question 1: What is your position on the carbon tax and climate change? If you believe the tax should be scrapped, what would be a better environmental policy to replace it?

Danielle Cameron, Alberta Independence Party

Alberta has some of the smartest people in the world working on technologies that increase efficiency and reduce emissions. This is due to some of the most stringent environmental regulations in the world. While Alberta does very well, we need to continue to do better for the environment and to further develop exportable technology. Alberta is and will continue to be a world leader in environmental technologies.

We believe the carbon tax is simply another revenue stream to offset runaway government spending. There are far better ways to tackle this issue without the use of a punitive tax on consumers. For example, the state of California has its own emission standards for automobiles. Making the energy consuming products we use more efficient is a much better strategy.

Albertans are already on the right path with our municipal recycling programs, environmental regulations and the incredible brain power that resides here.

Steve Durrell, NDP

Danielle Cameron, Alberta Independence Party

This province generates almost $100B in federal and provincial taxes. Our provincial budget is roughly $50B, indicating that Alberta does not have a revenue problem.

Half of the taxes generated in this province goes to the federal government with about $10B being returned to Alberta – resulting in an annual net loss of $40B. This continues even though our provincial economy is hurting, Quebec, the largest recipient of the federal transfer program, runs surplus budgets. A fair deal for Alberta is next to impossible within confederation.

An independent Alberta would see immediate benefit of retaining ALL of the tax revenue.

Our projections see a balanced/surplus budget within four years. This is done without cutting services to Albertans while cutting taxes:

- Individual tax rate – First $45,000 tax free, remaining income at a flat rate of 20 per cent.

- Corporate tax rate of 8 per cent, foreign business tax at 9 per cent.

Steve Durrell, NDP

The primary way to fix our debt and deficit problem is to get our economy back on track. The UCP has a plan to maintain spending and grow the economy as quickly as possible to ensure the budget will be balanced by 2023. To get this balance we must take significant steps to grow this economy.

First, by removing the carbon tax which is a strain on small business and job creators. Next, cut the corporate tax to encourage businesses to grow quicker. Third, have a red tape reduction minister whose prime goal is to reduce the hindrance on job creators so they can get people back to work. Once you have these in place the economy will grow again – and fast. This, in turn, will increase revenues to the government and slowly but surely remove our deficit. Once we have our yearly spending under control we can begin focusing on the debt.

Matthew Morrisey, Freedom Conservative Party (FCP)

There is no point in lying to Albertans. We will need to have disciplined cuts to bring the budget back in to balance. Our budget is short-term pain for long-term gain. We will target wasteful spending programs first and implement a 5 per cent reduction in core government staff costs; 5 per cent budget cut to all ministerial budgets and a 3 per cent reduction in non-core government staff costs. Tough decisions will need to be made by the next government and the FCP believes we cannot continue to mortgage our kids futures away.

Vern Raincock, Alberta Party