The provincial government’s throne speech is setting the stage for the next election expected to be less than a year and a half away, says a political scientist.
Chaldeans Mensah, a professor at MacEwan University, said the throne speech, delivered Monday by Lt.-Gov. Donald Ethell, is about the ruling Progressive Conservative party under new Premier Jim Prentice trying to drum up votes.
“It was an entirely targeted effort at strengthening specific voting segments before the next election,” Mensah said.
The speech had themes like property rights – aimed at bringing rural voters back to the PC fold from Wildrose – and a promise to not bring in a provincial sales tax, along with broad themes like diversification of the economy.
Mensah said he was somewhat surprised at the emphasis on the environment and thinks if that commitment is there, it could be important.
“I think that would be a very important signal in terms of getting access to markets,” Mensah said.
Other themes included health care and ending entitlements in the political sphere.
The speech did promise low taxes and no sales tax. Mensah said that with the next provincial election due in early 2016, “the government is in a bind” when it comes to discussing long-term solutions for revenue.
It can’t ignore the falling price of oil, however – so there could be some more revenue generated by fees like toll roads instead of tinkering with taxes, Mensah said.
“I think the government is going to be careful to not even hint towards raising taxes.”
Spruce Grove-St. Albert MLA Doug Horner also noted that $75 a barrel for oil is a reality the government has to address.
“I think the commitment is that we will maintain our tax advantage to North America ’cause right now we are probably the lowest tax jurisdiction in North America and I think the premier’s commitment is we will be staying there,” Horner said. “I think it’s way too premature to talk about the revenue picture at this point and I think the premier has said that.”
Despite the revenue challenges implicit with the falling oil prices, the speech recognizes the need for infrastructure investment, Horner said.
“I think the throne speech recognizes that we have a number of areas where we’re going to have to put investments in education and health care and in seniors care, that we’re going to have to do in a fiscally prudent sort of way,” Horner said.
He noted the need for a renewed focus on the environment as a key takeaway from the speech.
For St. Albert, Horner noted that the speech promises to meet commitments such as those made for new schools.
The speech also promises to continue stable funding for municipal infrastructure and services.
As former finance minister, Horner said he was “very pleased with the results based budgeting, the staying in the black on the operating side, which is all things we presented in the budget that I put forward.”
As the new session gets underway this week, Horner said he’s looking forward to maintaining a positive outlook in politics.
