Wildrose job plan targets business tax, red tape, WCB surplus

The Wildrosepartyreleased a plan Tuesday it says will create thousands of jobs "during theworst job loss our province has seen in over three decades".

The plan calls for:

• A one per cent cut to the small business tax;
• Reducing WCB premiums by half for the first 100 employees in each business and eliminate premiums for new hires until the WCB's surplus assets are drawn down by $1 billion;
• Cutting red tape 20 per cent by 2019 and implement a one-for-one rule on the introduction of new regulations;
• Canceling the NDP's $3 billion carbon tax until a full economic impact analysis is conducted; and,
• Enhancing opportunities for apprentices to work on provincial building projectsso they can finish their training.

"If adopted by the NDP government, these policies would provide hope and opportunity to the thousands of Albertans out of work," said shadow jobs minister Grant Hunter.

The proposals arelow-cost ways of getting Albertans back to work,WildroseLeader BrianJean said.

"While no government can control the price of oil, the NDP government certainly has the ability to control conditions for job growth and investment,"Jean said.

Alberta has the highest small business taxin western Canada, leadingemployers to look elsewhere to set up,he said.

The plan does not mention efforts todiversify the economy.

"I don't think right now diversifying the economy is the number one job," Jean said. "The number one job of government is keep Albertans working."

The full Wildrose Job Action Plan can read here.