Alberta finance minister says no new taxes, for now
Doug Horner says tax hikes could come in future budgets
CBC News
Posted: Jan 21, 2013 3:52 PM MT
Last Updated: Jan 21, 2013 4:18 PM MT
Related
Related Stories
External Links
(Note:CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)
Alberta Finance Minister Doug Horner told a crowd in Calgary Monday there will be no tax hikes in this year's budget to be delivered on March 7.
But the minister did not rule out the possibility of tax increases in the future.
Political scientist Lori Williams says the provincial government faces some difficult choices.
"This sort of deeply entrenched resistance to increasing taxes in Alberta has made it difficult to run things differently," said Williams.
She says the province will have to provide less in services or generate more money from some other source.
Finance Minister Doug Horner was in Calgary to discuss a report titled Dollars and Sense.
The report comes after extensive consultation with the public and says Albertans want a more diverse provincial economy that is less reliant on oil and gas revenues.
Most people also want more spending on infrastructure in the province, according to the report.
Borrowing money
Horner said Monday the government would likely borrow money to keep up with infrastructure projects.
Wildrose finance critic Rob Anderson says that is not the answer.
"Borrowing for politicians is heroin, once is never enough."
Anderson says politicians rely on borrowing when they don't have proper fiscal management in place.
Read the report:
Share Tools
Latest Calgary News Headlines
- Danielle Smith asks RCMP to investigate Sandhu
- Wildrose Official Opposition Leader Danielle Smith has requested the RCMP conduct a criminal investigation into the actions of Edmonton-Manning MLA Peter Sandhu. more »
- Evanston victims died by stabbing, police say
- A man has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder after the bodies of a woman and young boy were found in Calgary's northwest Thursday. more »
- Power outage cost ENMAX $20M
- Despite a power outage last summer that cost ENMAX Corporation $20-million, the city-owned utility told shareholders today that it is in a strong financial position. more »
- Calgary fire ban lifted
- Calgary's Level 3 fire ban was lifted Friday after several days of wet weather. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- WHO concerned coronavirus spreading person to person
- The World Health Organization has issued a blunt assessment of the coronavirus outbreak in Saudi Arabia, acknowledging for the first time that there are concerns the virus may be spreading from person to person, at least in a limited way. more »
- Toronto mayor cancels weekly radio show
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford will not be hosting his weekly radio show this weekend after explosive allegations that he was recorded on video appearing to smoke crack cocaine. more »
- Senator Pamela Wallin leaves Conservative caucus
- Senator Pamela Wallin says she is recusing herself from the Conservative caucus while her travel expense claims are under scrutiny. Wallin's departure comes one day after Senator Mike Duffy left the Tory caucus amid controversy over his expense claims. more »
- Body found after fishing boat capsizes off New Brunswick
- A man's body has been found after a lobster fishing boat capsized off the eastern coast of New Brunswick. more »
- Danielle Smith asks RCMP to investigate Sandhu
- Evanston victims died by stabbing, police say
- Lock your doors, police warn
- Chat replay: Your gardening questions answered
- Power outage cost ENMAX $20M
- Calgary fire ban lifted
- Family angry after Calgary police chief defends shooting
- Alberta to open 6 new trade offices
- Banff's Cave and Basin reopens after renovation

