The government has exposed important public programs like health care and education to the volatility of resource revenues by its excessive and irresponsible tax cuts last year to high-income earners and corporations.

"Just last year I asked the former Treasurer if the government’s expensive corporate tax cuts would threaten the stability of annual revenues. He assure me, in the Assembly, that the government was being careful and prudent and that important social spending would not be threatened," said New Democrat MLA Brian Mason. "Their reckless tax cuts destroyed Alberta’s financial foundation."

"Today’s announcement is the price that ordinary Albertans have to pay for the huge tax cuts that the government gave to wealthy individuals and to corporations."

The government’s flat tax delivered several hundred million dollars of foregone revenue to high-income families. In addition, the corporate tax cuts cost $250 million this year alone with another $750 million over the next 3 years."

"We understand that action needed to be taken because of the drop in resource revenues. However, the government must take a huge amount of the responsibility because of its reckless policies in the past," said Mason.

Mason also noted that$2.5 billion of infrastructure spending is charged to this year’s budget even though it will be spent in future budget years. "Charging those expenditures to the year they will actually take would provide Albertans with an open and honest picture of the government’s true fiscal situation," said Mason.

The reductions to the health authority budgets will have drastic effects on front line health care delivery. "Many of these authorities are facing budget deficits already. This will only lengthen waiting lists, cause more pain and lead to higher costs in the future," said Mason.

As alternatives, Mason singled out the $150 million per year royalty tax credit and the health care commission headed by former Tory MLA Bonnie Laing, which has a budget of $7 million over the next 2 ½ years. "Now is the time for the government to take action on frills like this unnecessary study group," concluded Mason.