UCP making matters worse by their choices
By Lethbridge Herald on March 26, 2022.
Shannon Phillips – NDP MLA for Lethbridge West
For many of us, March was another tough month as we continued to see inflation take hold, and watched our monthly earnings struggle to keep up with the increased cost of living.
All month I’ve been hearing from families of all shapes and sizes about how incomes aren’t keeping up with costs and how important spending decisions are becoming even more difficult.
Ballooning costs for energy, food, services and more have caused so many of us to think twice about spending in our small and local businesses. As all of us know, it’s that spending that keeps dollars flowing in our community, creates jobs, and increases the prosperity of our friends and neighbours.
The most heartbreaking part of hearing these stories is that the current UCP government led by Jason Kenney is failing to provide any support for families and seniors impacted by soaring costs. What’s worse is that the Kenney government isn’t just ignoring the problem, they’re actively making it worse through their own policy choices.
In past columns I’ve talked about the ways in which the UCP government has jacked up the cost of public services – things like post-secondary tuition, school fees, fees for camping and access to our natural spaces. I’ve also talked about the ways that the UCP’s agenda has stripped away critical consumer protections like the electricity and insurance rate caps that would have saved Albertans hundreds of dollars this winter.
Taken together, all of these things are making it harder for families to make ends meet and live the sorts of full and fulfilling lives this province can give us.
I wanted to take some time this month, however, to address another thing that many southern Albertans might have noticed over the past month.
Many of us, I’m sure, took time to prepare our annual tax returns this month and may have noticed some differences in the amount of taxes we are paying – especially if you are on a fixed or low income. This is because the Kenney government has de-indexed Alberta’s taxation system (and a few other programs) from the rate of inflation. Because of this, the government is taking in more of our money, despite the fact that our dollars aren’t going as far as they used to.
This month, through the government estimates process, we learned that these changes that de-index Alberta’s taxation system from inflation will cost Albertans more than a billion dollars over the course of the UCP fiscal plan – with a lot of this money coming from the lowest income earners in the province. To put it bluntly: Jason Kenney’s UCP government is paying for the billions of dollars in tax giveaways to profitable corporations by raising taxes on all of us.
There’s no getting around it: these changes, which disproportionately target some of our hardest-working and lowest-paid neighbours, hurt families. Rather than making life more expensive for working families and seniors on fixed incomes, Alberta’s government should be focused on doing what it can to make life better for everyday people in our province.
Unfortunately, right now we have a government consumed by its own palace intrigue and more concerned with Mr. Kenney’s fate than they are by the fact that many of our neighbours are having a harder and harder time making ends meet on a monthly basis.
I’ve heard from so many constituents that while they certainly don’t care for the premier’s leadership, that their real concern is how much it costs to send their kid to university, how high their power bill was last month, or why their car insurance went up so steeply even though they haven’t had an accident in years.
While the UCP continues to wring its hands as to the fate of its leader, I am pleased to be a member of a caucus that is seriously looking for solutions to the issues facing everyday Albertans, whether they’re worried about how far their paycheques are going or the broader future of our province. Just this week, I was proud to announce a commitment on behalf of our leader Rachel Notley and the rest of our caucus, to provide Albertans with over one billion dollars in tax relief, putting more money back into the pockets of the Albertans who need it most, and who will use that money to create jobs and prosperity in the communities in which they live.
Our NDP caucus has also committed to allowing our programs to fight inflation, so that our neighbours who access programs like AISH, the Alberta Seniors Benefit, or other similar support programs won’t be further harmed by inflation.
These are the things on the minds of Albertans, and the issues that are keeping parents and seniors up at night. They are also the very things that Alberta’s NDP is ready to tackle on day one.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns that my office can help with, please don’t hesitate to reach out by calling 403-329-4644 or by emailing Lethbridge.west@assembly.ab.ca.
18-17
Then change parties and fix it. First take a course on how to consider agreeing with anyone who may have a different opinion or suggestion then you.
Agreed, keep up the good work Shannon!
Here, is an example, of another UCP less than stellar and somewhat shocking choice, of which every Albertan should read:
“The Other Jason: Nixon’s Rocky Ascent to Power. One-time poacher, now environment minister.”
http://www.sprawlcalgary.com
Multi paragraphs – much ado, saying nothing – that she repeats in the Legislature ad nauseum. For someone who chose to LIE to the RCMP – making untrue statements with intent to deceive and further feeling she be given, what was described as special status due to her political position, speaks loud and clear of her MO. Perhaps PhilLIPS has forgotten she won that position by a slim margin of 225 votes.
Re: The Sprawl article, some/many, of us are well aware of nepotistic bullies, within the UCP. And, it may not be wise to make assumptions on the decisions of voters who have observed the Kenney UCP blunder time and again. Even folks within the UCP are sick and tired of it.
Ms Phillips knows very well her fate come election, for now we just have to tolerate her illgotten ramblings that amount to diddly!
Oh you mean like your two previous Municipal Election attempts Harold?
Until you run keep your arrogance to yourself.
The truth hurts, buck, show us how it’s done.
Your comments include nothing more than beaking off at others. Run the next time Waterfield, that is a challenge. Let’s see you stand on stage and be the mouthpiece you are. My guess you’re too chicken s—t to show your face. Don’t bother, you have nothing to offer.
Phillips, get a hobby……