Opposition parties aren’t buying into the Alberta government’s rosy economic projections in the budget released Thursday.
The government is forecasting 3.8 percent growth this year and with an increase in oil royalties and an expected rise in prices, the province will be out of a deficit by next year and is forecasted to have a $5.2 billion surplus by 2014-2015.
The opposition was quick to pounce on the optimistic projections.
“It looks like Alice in Wonderland projections,” says Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, “These are Fantasyland projections and what we’re seeing is the onloy possible way that this government can make its surplus is hoping resource revenue can bail them out.”
The NDP saw this as an election budget that is meant to sway voters and that things will get worse post election.
“This budget is a little bit of dust in the eyes of Alberta citizens just before an election,” says NDP leader Brian Mason, “and the bad news will be delivered when the election is over.”
The Liberals took aim at the amount of spending by Alison Redford’s Conservatives. Every department saw their funding go up in this budget.
“They sprinkled money everywhere and not been responsible with providing a balanced budget Albertans could have,” says Raj Sherman.
On the other side, The Canadian Taxpayers Federation were pleased with the budget.
National Director Scott Hennig says while the projections are optimistic they are not overly optimistic, and of course the lack of any new taxes was good to see.
“I was stunned, we had heard there might be a increase in cigarette tax, but were very happy there was no tax increase in the budget.”
© Shaw Media Inc., 2012. All rights reserved.