Official opposition faces opposition from government

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

While the nearly one-month-old NDP government assured the opposition that a provincial sales tax will not be on the agenda, Wildrose MLAs were disheartened, however, by the government’s paucity of information regarding the mulit-million dollar mini-budget and the projected full budget.
The $18 billion NDP interim budget, introduced as an interim supply bill, will separate the newly elected government from the 2014 Redford budget framework that the province is currently operating under. However, Strathmore-Brooks MLA and Wildrose Shadow Minister Derek Fildebrandt’s optimism is quickly deflating after meeting with the finance minister earlier this week.
“We’re not very optimistic that the government will work very cooperatively with us on the issue, and we put forward some recommendations that I believe are very reasonable and moderate that should be able to reach across ideological divides and focus on accountability,” said Fildebrandt. “They have made it clear that they are not accepting most of these recommendations, that the mini-budget will not contain in it particularly much detail, and that we cannot expect a full budget until nearly the winter. They will continue to use the PCs funny money accounting to allow them to continue borrowing billions of dollars a year without accounting for it.”
The Wildrose recommendations included allowing the mini-budget to be fully debated in the house, a commitment from the government to not delay the full budget past this September, for full information to be released on the state of Alberta’s finances before voting on the supply bill, and transparency in accounting so all capital expenditures are included.
During the government’s first question period – containing a focus on the budget on June 16 – the official opposition member had a chance to address his concerns publicly and question the NDP’s intentions regarding the interim mini-budget, which he says makes up 50 per cent of the government’s operating costs.
Joe Ceci, minister of finance, in turn referred back to the new budget that will be passed some time in the fall adding that Fildebrandt and other members will then have the time to debate the actual budget in full.
“Don’t worry, we are going to have a very detailed discussion about the budget and let me just say that that budget will be based on the principles that this government laid out to the people of Alberta in the last election,” said Premier Rachel Notley at the legislature. “That’s what the government will include. It will reflect those opinions, reflect those principles, and reflect what the people of this province voted for.”
When questioned about committing to a Sept. 7 deadline for introducing a new budget, Notley opposed the date, but said the budget would be revealed shortly after. She also opposed the Keystone Pipeline, and said the government is evaluating the PC books, which will determine whether a comprehensive investigation is necessary.
“We certainly recognize that the premier isn’t able to table a budget just yet and that’s sort of understandable, but it would be helpful for Alberta businesses and Alberta families to actually know what direction the province is going and certainly to know what the financial plan is for the years ahead,” said Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean during question period. “We all know the premier isn’t planning on any cuts, so really the only budget questions are, which taxes are going to go up and how much new debt Albertans are going to have to pay off in the future.”
While emphasis was heavily placed on the provincial budget during the June 16 question period, Fildebrandt was more concerned about the supply bill, as the year will be nearly over when the budget would receive approval. Fildebrandt specifically took issue with the lack of information surrounding the $18 billlion mini-budget and felt ratepayers deserved at least 50 per cent of the details involved. Furthermore, the lack of cooperation he’s received thus far has raised red flags.
“It’s very concerning and frankly quite disappointing, because we’re trying to do opposition differently,” he said.
“We are trying to be helpful and to propose constructive solutions rather than merely opposing everything. It’s discouraging that at least thus far that they have not been particularly open to suggestions outside of their party. It’s still early, but if the NDP are consistently closed to constructive advice then we have to become more vocal.”