NDP Leader Brian Mason accused the Tory government Tuesday of selling out Albertans and allowing oil and gas companies to keep billions of dollars.
He promised his party — if elected — would re-open the issue of energy royalties and ensure Albertans get a bigger share of the revenues.
Alberta NDP Leader Brian Mason is promising to re-open oil and gas royalty rates if his party wins the next election.
(CBC)
"I think we are sitting on one of the largest proven reserves of petroleum in the world, and the world is increasingly facing a shortage of oil," said Mason. "The entire world's economy is dependent on it. We are absolutely in the driver's seat," he added.
Mason also released an e-mail from the head of the Alberta government-appointed task force which reviewed the royalty rates in 2007. In the e-mail, Royalty Task Force Chairman Bill Hunter admitted he did not have access to some Department of Energy documents when he did his review. But Hunter goes on to say in the document that he still stands behind his recommendation to increase royalties by about $2 billion dollars a year.
The government did raise oil and gas royalties in October by $1.4 billion, about 25 per cent less than the task force recommended.
Mason said the decision is typical of policies from the other main provincial parties.
"When push comes to shove, Liberals and Conservatives will stick up for their friends and donors, and ignore the needs of middle-class families," he said.
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Alberta Votes 2008 »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
Riding Profiles
More Alberta Votes Headlines »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
