Alberta seniors who are homeowners would save an extra $1,000 a year under a plan proposed Wednesday by provincial Liberal Leader Kevin Taft.
Under the proposal, property taxes paid by seniors would drop by an average of $700 per home. Seniors would also save an additional $300 in lower electricity prices once the Liberals regulate utility costs, Taft said.
Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft speaks to people at the Strathcona Place Seniors Centre in Edmonton on Wednesday.
(CBC)
"The current government has allowed costs to reach levels that are often unmanageable for Alberta seniors," Taft said. "It's time to change that."
The Liberal plan would also:
- Establish a seniors' advocate to help deal with complaints and problems with government agencies.
- Increase the number of dental procedures covered by government health benefits.
- Index the Alberta Seniors Benefit to the cost of living.
- Establish a seniors' loan program — to be repaid when the house is sold — so seniors can pay for repairs to their homes.
Brian Staples, chair of the Seniors Action and Liaison Team (SALT), welcomed the plan, particularly the proposal for a seniors' advocate.
"We've been working with the province for five years to try to get them to do this," he said. "We've decided they're not friendly to seniors."
Tory Leader Ed Stelmach unveiled his seniors plan last Friday, including tax breaks and increased tax credits for caregivers.
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Alberta Votes 2008 »
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- 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
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- 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.
