Tory platform costing: Even more bloated spending, even less accountability, and still no plan for the future
February 21, 2008
Tory platform costing: Even more bloated spending, even less accountability, and still no plan for the future
Edmonton – The struggling PC campaign’s debate-night stunt of finally releasing their costing has blown up in bumbling leader Ed Stelmach’s face.
Out of 70 commitments, only 28 have dollar figures next to them. Over half the commitments of the PC platform will be paid for through “ongoing commitments,” “policy initiatives,” or will be determined later.
The Tory costing priorities would continue the long-standing practice of burning through Alberta’s resource revenue without a plan to save for future generations.
Here are the highlights and low-lights:
$40 million to support Alberta’s bid to host the National Portrait Gallery – it’s a gallery, Ed, not the Olympic Games!
$12 million over four years for another committee to study homelessness. How many more committees do you need to tell you what you should already know?
$250 million over four years to attract 225 new physician spaces – something Stelmach’s own Health Minister Dave Hancock said "We can't do that," (Edmonton Sun, February 7, 2008)
$120 million over four years to “help tenants faced with unaffordable rents” – You might as well call this the landlord slush fund.
NOTHING for clean energy – clean energy technologies, the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund, ensuring emissions regulations inspire new technologies that reduce CO2 emission – they’re all listed, but have a big goose-egg beside them.
NOTHING for monitoring water use, water storage, connected use of ground and surface water, and water re-use – apparently they’ll be paid for through “policy initiative.”
* NOTHING for carbon capture storage – this is one of the PCs marquee plans to combat climate change, but there’s no costs associated with it in the platform costing.
You can’t trust Ed Stelmach to shoot straight on the numbers. It’s time for a change to get the job done right.
Tory platform costing: Even more bloated spending, even less accountability, and still no plan for the future
Edmonton – The struggling PC campaign’s debate-night stunt of finally releasing their costing has blown up in bumbling leader Ed Stelmach’s face.
Out of 70 commitments, only 28 have dollar figures next to them. Over half the commitments of the PC platform will be paid for through “ongoing commitments,” “policy initiatives,” or will be determined later.
The Tory costing priorities would continue the long-standing practice of burning through Alberta’s resource revenue without a plan to save for future generations.
Here are the highlights and low-lights:
$40 million to support Alberta’s bid to host the National Portrait Gallery – it’s a gallery, Ed, not the Olympic Games!
$12 million over four years for another committee to study homelessness. How many more committees do you need to tell you what you should already know?
$250 million over four years to attract 225 new physician spaces – something Stelmach’s own Health Minister Dave Hancock said "We can't do that," (Edmonton Sun, February 7, 2008)
$120 million over four years to “help tenants faced with unaffordable rents” – You might as well call this the landlord slush fund.
NOTHING for clean energy – clean energy technologies, the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund, ensuring emissions regulations inspire new technologies that reduce CO2 emission – they’re all listed, but have a big goose-egg beside them.
NOTHING for monitoring water use, water storage, connected use of ground and surface water, and water re-use – apparently they’ll be paid for through “policy initiative.”
* NOTHING for carbon capture storage – this is one of the PCs marquee plans to combat climate change, but there’s no costs associated with it in the platform costing.
You can’t trust Ed Stelmach to shoot straight on the numbers. It’s time for a change to get the job done right.
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