Finance Policy

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We need a long-term financial plan to mitigate the boom and bust cycles of our resource driven economy.

We believe in spending on the core programs of health and education. Investing in a healthy and educated population is a key element in ensuring continued economic growth and prosperity.

We will ensure that future generations of Albertan will be able to enjoy the wealth of our province’s resources by limiting annual spending increases and building a robust savings plan.

We would perform an independent value-for-dollar audit to eliminate wasteful and unnecessary spending practices.

  • We believe in the same basic financial principles that a household would use. You don’t spend beyond your means, you upgrade your house when you have the money to do so but you don’t jeopardize saving for your retirement when things get tough.
  • The Finance Minister is using money from the savings account to balance the cheque book at the end of every month while at the same time ignoring the mounting credit card bill. This irresponsible management must stop.
  • We believe that capital spending should be scaled back from the government’s current plan. Alberta can still spend more than the national average on infrastructure without draining the Sustainability Fund in less than two years
  • There is too much wasteful spending by these so-called fiscal conservatives. To address this we would perform an independent value-for-dollar audit so that taxpayers get the best possible value for our money. We need to stop the wasteful spending habits of this government.
  • We believe in savings. Alberta is fortunate to have a wealth of natural resources, but we also have the responsibility to ensure the wealth is carried into the future through a revitalized Heritage Fund. This will not only show fairness to future generations but will also help to alleviate the boom and bust cycles our province experiences from depending too heavily on non-renewable resource revenue.

 

Finance Responses & Questions

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08 March 2012

Hehr says MLA pay must be simplified; committees should only be paid when they work

Edmonton – Official Opposition Deputy Leader Kent Hehr says Albertans are right to be outraged about MLAs being paid to work on committees that rarely meet, and that an Alberta Liberal government would completely revamp MLA pay to eliminate such waste.

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08 March 2012

Cost of Premier’s Swearing-in Ceremony March 8, 2012

Mr. MacDonald: Thank you. The hon. Member for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville spent at his swearing-in ceremony as Premier in December 2006 $10,900 tax dollars. Five years later the hon. Member for Calgary-Elbow spent at her swearing-in ceremony as Premier over $22,000. My first question is to the Deputy Premier. Why did this ceremony double in cost at a time when the Progressive Conservative Party racked up over $7 billion in deficits? [interjections] This is not a laughing matter.

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06 March 2012

Revenue from VLTs and Slot Machines March 6, 2012

Mr. MacDonald: Thank you. Since this government quietly changed the accounting method for VLTs and slot machines in 2000, $14 billion in gross profit has been generated. These accounting changes, unfortunately, hide the fact that the government takes 30 per cent in profit from gamblers who bet atVLTs. My first question is to the Minister of Finance, who is in charge of this program. Why are cash-in, cash-out totals for VLTs and slot machines not included in the information that’s publicly disclosed in the government’s books?

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21 February 2012

Problem Gambling ( February 21, 2012)

Mr. MacDonald: Thank you. Three years ago the projected number of problem gamblers here in Alberta was over 72,000. Over 19,000 wanted help for their gambling problems, but unfortunately less than 2,000 received treatment for their gambling problems. My first question is to the Minister of Finance. What happened to the other 17,000 problem gamblers who wanted help in Alberta?

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16 February 2012

Revenues from VLTs and Slot Machines ( February 16, 2012)

Mr. MacDonald: Thank you. This government is taking a larger percentage of cash played by Albertans in VLTs and slot machines as revenue than it claims. It is creating the illusion that the odds of winning are far better than they truly are. It is unacceptable that this government intentionally deceives Albertans as to what the risks of VLTs and slot machines are. To the Minister of Finance – and welcome back, sir – what per cent of the money inserted in either a VLT or slot machine is retained as profit by the government?

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16 February 2012

MacDonald says PC government hiding the truth about its take from VLTs and slot machines

Edmonton – Finance Critic Hugh MacDonald says the government is taking a larger percentage of the cash played by Albertans in video lottery terminals (VLTs) and slot machine revenues than it claims, creating the illusion that the odds of winning are far better than they truly are.

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15 February 2012

Revenue from VLTs and Slot Machines ( February 15, 2012)

Mr. MacDonald: Thank you. Yesterday the Deputy Premier suggested that my statistics on problem gambling were inaccurate. Unfortunately, they are not. Today I have more questions for this government regarding VLT and slot machine revenue. To the Deputy Premier: what per cent of the money inserted into a VLT or slot machine is retained as profit by this government?

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14 February 2012

Revenue from Problem Gambling (February 14, 2012)

Mr. MacDonald: Thank you. Of the $492 million in gross profits from VLTs last year, 77 per cent came from the pockets and purses of people with, unfortunately, gambling problems. My first question is to the Deputy Premier. Why is this greedy Progressive Conservative government knowingly robbing problem gamblers instead of trying to help them get over their addictions to the VLT machines?

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