REALITY CHECK: After Calling for Billions in Cuts, Opposition Parties Didn't Propose a Single Cut

For immediate release
April 20, 2017

AFTER CALLING FOR BILLIONS IN CUTS, OPPOSITION PARTIES DIDN’T PROPOSE A SINGLE CUT

EDMONTON- As all budget estimates have now passed through the committee stage, the Wildrose and PCs either support the 2017 Alberta budget or are hiding their plans for severe cuts.

The Wildrose and PCs did not move a single motion to change any line items in the budget. When outside of estimates, Wildrose MLAs have called for $5.4 billion in cuts, and the PCs have called for $2.6 billion in cuts – but neither have detailed where they would cut spending.

“I think it’s interesting that the opposition chose not to propose any budget cuts this year,” said Graham Sucha, NDP MLA for Calgary-Shaw. “The billions in cuts the opposition parties are looking for would make life worse for Alberta families – but it’s clear they don’t want people to see that, so they let the budget estimates go without any amendments.

“Either the Wildrose and the PCs support the budget or they don’t want Albertans to see their true intentions when it comes to their plans to cut services Alberta families rely on,” said Sucha. “Their plan is to make deep cuts that hurt families in order to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Albertans.”

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Maureen Mariampillai

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