Dear Editor, Re: Budget 2015 ‘where we're at.' St. Paul Journal, March 31, 2015 Where Alberta's troubled finances are at in 2015 is a direct result of mismanagement of provincial revenues over the last decade.
Dear Editor,
Re: Budget 2015 ‘where we're at.' St. Paul Journal, March 31, 2015
Where Alberta's troubled finances are at in 2015 is a direct result of mismanagement of provincial revenues over the last decade.
Under Premiers Stelmach, Redford and Hancock, government brought in record amounts of revenue but spent unwisely. We have heard the stories of huge salaries and severance payouts, lavish expense accounts, a top heavy administration of highly paid bureaucrats, unnecessary travel at home and abroad, construction of a Sky Palace and MLA offices and more.
At the same time, most promised new hospitals and schools were announced and re-announced, but few have become reality.
And due to miss-spending, there seemed to be no money to put into Alberta's “rainy day fund,&” money that could ease the pressure on the extra taxes, fees and levies Albertans are now asked to pay. I did look in the mirror, as Premier Prentice suggested, but I find that I am not to blame for the current fiscal mess. But, like all Albertans, I am asked to fork over more taxes and fees to the government.
Do you have confidence the current government will manage Alberta's affairs better than what we have seen in the last decade? As I see it, Alberta once again has a new jockey but still the same old horse.
Albert Lafortune,
St. Vincent
