UCP, NDP roll out top post-election priorities

Over the course of two days this week, the top parties in Alberta's hotly contested election have unveiled their No. 1 legislative priorities for voters to assess.

The United Conservative Party and the Alberta New Democrats want to signal the direction they'll head if they form the next government.

After winning the 2015 election, Rachel Notley's NDP brought forward a Bill 1 called An Act to Renew Democracy in Alberta. The legislation banned corporate and union donations to political parties.

After the UCP successfully contested its first election in 2019, then-premier Jason Kenney's Bill 1 was An Act to Repeal the Carbon Tax.

It killed the carbon tax brought in by the NDP government but detractors would point out it also cleared the way for the federal carbon tax to be applied to Alberta.

For this year's election, the parties are focusing on affordability issues.

UCP touts no tax hikes

As election day approaches, UCP Leader Danielle Smith announced on Wednesday that a re-elected UCP government would make the Taxpayer Protection Amendment Act its Bill 1 for the next legislative session.

Such a bill would ensure that no future Alberta government could raise personal or business taxes without Albertans having a say in a referendum.

"This is how strongly we feel about creating a stable environment for business investment, that this would be our very first act of government," said Smith.

She used the opportunity to paint a clear contrast with her NDP opponent, zeroing in on Notley's plan to raise Alberta's corporate tax rate from the current eight per cent to 11 per cent.

Under the NDP plan, that will generate billions in additional government revenues that would be used to fix problems in healthcare and education.

"According to their own projections, Rachel Notley and the NDP's 38-per-cent tax hike will burden Alberta job creators with more than $6.2 billion over three years in additional costs — costs that will lead employers to layoff employees, pass the cost on to families or just move elsewhere."

Smith said Alberta will have a stronger economy if that money stays in Albertans' hands, rather than in government coffers.

"A strong economy means more jobs for Albertans. It means more money for health, for education and for supports to the most vulnerable. And a strong economy means more opportunities for everyone," said the UCP leader.

Notley pitches savings

On Thursday, NDP Leader Notley laid out her party's top priorities if it wins Monday's election.

Notley said its Bill 1 would be the Save Albertans' Money Act. 

It will include capping home electricity rates at 12 cents per kilowatt hour for the regulated rate option (RRO). The NDP is also promising to pay off the $180 million that Albertans on the RRO still owe under the UCP's deferred payment plan from when prices spiked last winter.

The legislation will include the kids activity tax credit, worth $500 per year per child to pay for children's activities.

Bill 1 will speed up the implementation of $10-a-day childcare as well as extending it to before- and after-school care.

Notley said the bill would freeze university tuition and reverse the last tuition hike imposed by the UCP.

Freezing auto insurance rates will be included. After the UCP was elected and removed NDP caps on insurance, Albertans saw their rates climb significantly.

Finally, the NDP plans to re-index the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program, the Alberta Seniors Benefit and Income Supports program. 

Notley said unlike the UCP's plan, the measures will put hundreds of dollars back into the pockets of Albertans, depending on their individual circumstances.

"On average, a regular Albertan will get about $450 savings from our changes to utility costs and $450 from our changes to insurance," said Notley.

"If you have children, you'll get $500 per child for an activity tax credit."

More bills this summer

Notley also went further by spelling out her party's next two bills if it forms government.

Bill 2 would be the Investment Certainty Act. It would repeal the Alberta Sovereignty Act, bring in new tax credits and eliminate the corporate tax for more than 100,000 small businesses.

Bill 3 would be the Pension Protection Act which Notley said would prevent future governments from pulling Alberta out of the Canada Pension Plan.

The NDP is also promising that it would hire as many teachers and education assistants over the summer so that classroom conditions are improved by the time students return in September.