Alberta Budget 2006 Has Been Tabled

The Alberta government's Finance Minister, Shirley McClellan (no relation to Scotty), presented her budget to the legislature today. Here is an overview and some highlights from the government's web sites:

The estimated $4.1-billion surplus in 2006-07 has been allocated primarily to savings and capital investment.

The Alberta government will support $13.3 billion in infrastructure work over three years. It will also invest more in education and health services, hire more police officers and prosecutors and increase savings over three years by nearly $2.7 billion.
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This is the 13th annual balanced budget in Alberta and, as many of you know, that track record is based not only on increasing oil revenues but on cuts to Alberta's vital services like education and health care since the 1990s that the Conservatives have still not caught up on. Every year, they announce spending increases that pale in comparison to what they've chopped in the past.

"This wasn't luck. It was good, prudent fiscal management, it was good tax policy, and I think it's great that Albertans are reaping the benefits," she said as she presented another gold-plated budget on behalf of Premier Ralph Klein's Conservative government.
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Give me a break, Shirley. With all of the oil money constantly gushing into the government's coffers, 6 kindergartners with big crayons could have made this budget work.

Here are some details from this year's budget (visit the site for a more in depth analysis and funky pie charts):

* 16 per cent increase in operating funding for post-secondary education
* Additional $127 million in annual funding for continuing care initiatives by 2008-09
* Three-year Capital Plan allocates $13.3 billion for infrastructure, an increase of 45 per cent
* Funding increase for AISH, seniors assistance and services for children
* 80 new RCMP positions, more prosecutors, establishment of organized crime surveillance team
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This includes a total of $1.9 billion that will be invested in

- the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund
endowment funds
- the Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Fund.

The Sustainability Fund will be increased by $325 million, providing added protection against sudden declines in energy revenues and costs of emergencies and disasters.

Another $813 million will be allocated for capital investment.

As expected, the government is reducing corporate taxes and is pushing so-called clean coal technology.

Prior to the release of today's budget, opposition Liberal leader Kevin Taft offered his predictions in his press release titled, Budget Day a Futile Point for Worn Out Tory Government.

Edmonton - Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft is putting no stock into tomorrow's provincial budget. Already described as a "stay the course" budget by the Premier, Taft is calling the budget document and entire pre-budget process a deep disappointment.

“The government went over budget last year by over $3 billion. That is more than the entire provincial budget of Prince Edward Island,” said Taft. “The document isn’t worth the paper it is written on.”
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(Sidebar: While writing this as McClellan was speaking on our public access TV network, which carries Alberta Government business including Question Period, speeches from the throne and, usually, the entire budget presentation, the channel suddenly cut in with some commercials and moved on to the Ellen Degeneres show in the middle of the presentation. There's no doubt - Ellen certainly is more entertaining than Shirley and can definitely bust a move (as the kids these days say) but some of us actually wanted to watch the government proceedings. Maybe ACCESS TV is run by some of those in the Vast Left Wing Conspiracy (VLWC). Who knew??)

Okay, now where was I? Oh yes. Brian Mason, leader of the NDP opposition had his own little press release yesterday that not only criticizes the Conservatives but goes further by presenting the NDP's budget priorities. (Too lengthy to reprint here).

I will post updates of the reactions to the actual budget presentation once they become available. They're predictable though: not enough money for essential services in a time when Alberta's government safes are overflowing. It's the same damn thing year after year.

When is Ralph leaving again?