Ed Stelmach (February 23, 2008): “A Progressive Conservative government will never put Alberta back into a deficit position.”April 7, 2009: Alberta to post $4.7B deficit
Ed Stelmach (July 7, 2009): "As long as I'm premier of this province, there will be no tax increases."I'm just saying...
(h/t to CalgaryGrit for reminding me of the February 2009 quote)
UPDATE: Premier Stelmach has revealed his true motivation behind his decree and the rescinding of the Liquor Tax that his Government imposed in the April 2009 Budget:
'So just to close: cold beer, hot day, during very difficult economic times.'(h/t the Chief of Staff to the President of Daveberta)
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15 comments:
The campaign ads write themselves.
If you're suggesting that the government should have gutted health care, I totally agree. We need private health care in Alberta now.
What's being suggested is that Ed Stelmach shouldn't make another promise we can't trust him to keep.
Daveberta runs his own rapid response war room. Good work.
As we prepare for a two billion dollar correction you just watch, we don't raise taxes, we cut families--that is how we do it in Alberta.
And I quote, "my thoughts and opinions change from time to time. I consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind." By the way, if Alberta reported on public finances like other provinces, they wouldn't be reporting a deficit. I'm just sayin'...
re: my quote ... with the small difference being that I'm not making promises about fiscal policy for an entire provincial government...
Or doing a complete 180 on a policy that only came into force three months ago.
There is changing one's opinions and then there is outright political flip-flopping.
Ed Stelmach's a flip-flopper. Raises royalties only to quickly lower them. Raises booze taxes only to quickly lower them. Promises to run balanced budgets only to plow right into deficit.
Whatever, Dave. You either believe what you say, or you don't. If you think that some individuals should never be allowed to change their views, even when circumstances dictate they should, but it's okay for you, I guess that makes you a bit of a hypocrite. God forbid our Premier should have an open mind, huh?
And an individual (or provincial Premier...) concerned with remaining open minded to new options (and new realities) likely wouldn't back himself into a fiscal corner by making promises like "never put[ting] Alberta back into a deficit position” or never raising taxes. But we already know how much good the first promise was worth.
I'm on tenderhooks waiting to learn about how a 'technical tax hike' is different than a 'real tax hike.'
It's the same bullshit Harper's selling when he says we don't have a "structural deficit".
Which is another way of saying "Yes, we're into deficit spending, but we hope to be out of it within 5-10 years."
And by be out of it, they mean the role of governing party.
So much for the myth of Honest Ed.
As I've read elsewhere, taxes should be considered similar to condo fees. Can someone please ask the Premier why citizens should pay fewer condo fees when the roof of their building is leaky and their parking garage is flooded? The deficit is an outstanding tax bill.
I can. The roof is overflowing with excess in the house. Time to cut, and cut deep.
Then let's start with you Anon July 9 9:20am I am sure your family will understand.
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