Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Ted Morton released his fiscal plan, which focuses on balancing the Alberta budget by 2013, Aug. 24.
Morton, the former finance minister and current MLA for Foothills-Rocky View, promises to do so by restraining spending, without “deep service cuts or tax increases.”
“As premier, I will not allow government debt to undermine adequate funding for health care and education,” said Morton. “This happened in Alberta in the 1990s. It’s happening in Europe and the U.S. today. Under a Morton government, it will not happen here in Alberta.”
Morton, one of six candidates hoping to succeed Ed Stelmach as premier, pledges to roll back the 2008 pay raise for the premier and cabinet - approved behind closed doors - and reduce the size of cabinet.
Other initiatives include rebuilding both the Sustainability Fund and the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and re-instating the Debt Retirement Account to pay back $3.3 billion borrowed over the past three years.
Morton also promises no provincial sales tax, no increase in income taxes and to limit annual government spending increases to no more than population plus inflation.
Airdrie-Chestermere MLA Rob Anderson said Morton’s plan is remarkably similar to what the Wildrose Party is promoting.
Last fall, Morton voted against Anderson’s Bill 204, the Fiscal Responsibility (Spending Limit) Amendment Act, which also proposed to limit annual spending to no more than population plus inflation. At that time, Morton called the bill “rigid” and “simplistic.”
“I guess he understands now that keeping things simple is sometimes the best way to go,” said Anderson.
Anderson said he was disappointed by the timeline for eliminating the deficit that Morton proposed, saying that the budget could be balanced earlier through fiscal responsibility.
“There is no need to slash and burn here,” said Anderson.
“If we spread the capital plan over an extra year… if we get rid of wasteful spending, we can certainly balance it by 2012.”
Anderson said he considers Morton and Calgarian Rick Orman the only two conservatives vying for PC leadership, but added it will be an uphill battle for the former academic.
“It is going to be tough for Ted,” said Anderson. “A lot of his support is with the Wildrose.”
