Wildrose leader Danielle Smith visited Airdrie on her provincial campaign tour, March 30; the same day the party released the first component of its Family Pack policy.
The policy includes a child tax credit program with a $2,000 tax deduction that would save Alberta parents $200 per child annually. The program would cost an estimated $130 million per year.
“For a family of four, that puts $400 back in their pockets where it belongs,” said Smith in the Diamond Room at the Best Western Hotel.
“Wildrose believes that families are the cornerstone of our province and they face unique costs associated with raising children. With the rising cost of living, we recognize that families are having a tough time making ends meet and that is why the Wildrose Family Pack focuses on making life more affordable for Alberta families.”
The second and third parts of the Wildrose Family Pack would include the elimination of mandatory school fees and a $500 tax credit for fees spent on children’s sports, arts and cultural activities.
“We believe you can not have a strong province if you do not have flourishing families,” said Airdrie-Chestermere MLA and Wildrose candidate Rob Anderson.
“With rising prices, seniors and families are hit the hardest. The credit gives families a bit of a leg up and I think that will really help.”
Smith said she voted for the PCs for years and the Wildrose party is the first choice conservative residents have had in four decades.
“Year after year, you’ve marked the X beside the PCs because you felt you didn’t have any other choice but those days are over, now you have a choice,” she said.
“You can vote for a lean, clear, smart government. One that understands you don’t work for the government, the government works for you.”
Anderson said before he crossed the floor from PC to Wildrose in January 2010, he tried to convince Smith to join the PCs.
“We wanted to reform the party from within and she said that she wanted to go out on her own and make a difference,” he said.
“I told her the PCs had their tentacles everywhere. She said to me, ‘The more I hear about their control, the more I realize I need to run for Wildrose.’”
Smith said she is hearing residents across the province tell her they are angry with the way the province is being led.
“They are upset about the flip flop on the health care inquiry, people are furious about thousands of dollars given out to MLAs for nothing, they are furious about severance packages and this is part of the reason you see the panic mode the PCs are in,” she said.
She said she has heard that residents are offended by Premier Alison Redford’s comments to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on March 27 that she would like to “change the character of our province.”
“I don’t think the character needs to be changed, I love Alberta,” said Smith.
“I love the fact that Albertans know the difference between right and wrong. The character doesn’t need changing, the government needs changing.”
