Alberta NDP budget slammed for deficit, praised for capital projects

Shortly after the embargo on the Alberta budget was lifted Tuesday afternoon, opposition politicians and interestgroups offered their reaction to the NDP's first financial blueprint.

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Amber Ruddy,director of provincial affairs with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business:

"The best way to create jobs is with a low tax environment that is light on red tape and that addresses debt and deficit. So we still have a lot of work to do in those areas. There was talk about a job creation incentive but the way it is designed or structured sounds like it will be for big businesses. They have to ensure that small businesses get some of that money earmarked because it's a first come, first served basis, up to 100 employees."

Derek Fildebrandt, Wildrose finance critic

"There is no indication this government seems concerned by our fiscalsituation. Wildrose will be holding the government to account andurgingthem to reconsider this risky ideological experiment."

Guy Smith president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees:

"I'm concerned about the continued restraint in terms of hiring front-line (workers), especially as the population is still growing and demandon services is increasing. That's something we'll continue to monitor."

Helen Clease, president,Alberta School Boards Association:

"It's pretty much at this point a hold-the-line budget. We don't see any major increases coming our way. The one thing that we will always speak to in terms of school boards is that we need that flexibility at the local level to make sure that we are meeting local needs."

Liberal Leader David Swann:

"I'm pleased to see the investment in infrastructure. We're going to protect jobs and develop the infrastructure that we definitely need. I don't see a repayment plan. I'm sorry to see pilfering of the Heritage Savings Trust Fund."

"We are so far behind mental health funding that it's going to take much more than $10 million to actually address the deficits in care centres, in beds and access to speciality services, and especially our First Nations who are absolutely left out in the cold."

Jonathan Teghtmeyer, associate coordinator of communications and government,Alberta Teachers Association:

"We have a mixed reaction to the budget."

"Unfortunately there arestill a lot of issues that are still haunting education in Alberta, things like large class sizes, inadequate support for special needs students and a lack of effective programs for English language learners. Sowe were hoping that the government would be able to address some of those things in this school year but we recognize that there are some revenue issues at play."

Paige MacPherson, Alberta director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation

"I think that I would grade this budget a D, for debt and deficit.

"Understanding what deficits mean. If they don't mean tax hikes today, they mean tax hikes tomorrow. and that's a big concern not only for taxpayers today, who have children, but for our future generations who are also going to shoulder this debt burden."

"The debt is essentially set to double in the next 2.5 years. That's a huge concern for taxpayers today and taxpayers tomorrow."

Stephen Dew, University of Alberta provost and vice-president of academic:

"I think overall it's a good news budget for the post-secondarysector. It allows us to have predictable funding for thenextapproximately two-year period while the government is going throughits review of the post-secondary sector."

Lisa Holmes, president of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Associationand mayor of Morinville:

"The projections that they laid out in the capital plan over the nextfew years are really encouraging, they show a lot of investment inmunicipal infrastructure. But for this year we didn't see anysignificant increases so we're just kind of sitting and waiting forthat to come into fruition."

Alberta Party LeaderGreg Clark:

"I do believe we need to borrow to build when interest rates are low to overcome Alberta's infrastructure deficit, I don't have a problem with that. But I want clarity what the benefit of each of those projects actually is."

On the Job Creation Incentive Program that gives businesses, non-profit organizations and charities a $5,000 grant for each new full time position they create:

"I don't like [it] one bit. I want to see an investor tax credit in this province so businesses, entrepreneurs can decide how best to deploy that capital. That will create real new jobs."

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson:

"The one big thingthat we're curious to learn more about is the newpublic transit initiatives fund. There's not a lot of information inthe budget so far, but it's got more than $300 million attached to itover the next few years."

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi:

"In addition to specific projects in Calgary such the Cancer Centre, the ring road, and (of course) the recently announced flood mitigation projects, it is good to see the government adding $4.4 billion in new money for infrastructure in Alberta."

"While the Green Line LRT project is not specifically mentioned in this budget, there is nothing in this budget that precludes it, and we will continue discussions with the province about how they will participate in the project."