Wildrose Party unveils Alberta budget recommendations

The Wildrose Party is calling on the Redford government to chop $1.9 billion in provincial spending.

• Albertans don't need more taxes, says Wildrose Party
• Alberta debt plan risks financial future, Wildrose says
• Alberta borrowing $4.3B to make up budget shortfall

The opposition unveiled its budget recommendations this morning in Calgary ahead of next week's budget.  

Wildrose leader Danielle Smith says Alberta doesn't have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem.

Her party is recommending the province cut spending to get back to balanced budgets.

She wants to start at the top by cutting the size of cabinet, cancelling big pay hikes and doing away with bonuses and severances.

But the opposition leader says the biggest reductions can be made by eliminating corporate subsidies worth $450 million and cutting bureaucracy by $250 million.

"The proposals are very reasonable, they're very realistic. They're very achievable and we can do all of this without impacting front-line service delivery," said Smith. "It's a matter of prioritizing and this government isn't capable of doing that." 

The premier's office did tweet some reaction, for example it says cutting the bureaucracy by 20 per cent means 6,000 public servants would be fired.

Jessica Jacobs-Mino, who speaks for Alberta Finance, says people will be affected any time there are cuts.

"I certainly would not suggest that we could conclude in any way that you can make those kinds of cuts without seeing an impact," she said. "The truth is if you take money from somewhere, it's gonna have an impact."

Finance Minister Doug Horner will provide a quarterly financial update Wednesday and table the next provincial budget in the legislature next week.