Danielle Smith criticizes NDP fiscal plan, proposes bill to prevent future tax hikes

United Conservative Party (UCP) Leader Danielle Smith criticized the NDP fiscal plan that would increase corporate taxes by three per cent, while leader Rachel Notley defended the economic plan.

At an event in Calgary ahead of Monday’s provincial election, Smith says her party would bring legislation to prevent government from increasing personal or business taxes without Albertan’s approval.

She says the first bill would be the Tax Protection Amendment Act.

While speaking with reporters, she used the announcement to attack Notley’s proposal to raise corporate taxes by three per cent as part of a three-year fiscal plan.

Smith says the NDP plan to increase those taxes from eight to 11 per cent would kill jobs, burden Alberta families and drive out investors.

She also says Albertans have already seen the effect of NDP policies when Notley was elected premier in 2015.

“This election is a choice between a United Conservative Party that’s lowered taxes, balanced the budget, and returned Alberta to its place as the economic powerhouse of Canada or the party that’s done the opposite,” Smith said Wednesday.

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Meanwhile, Notley defended her party’s proposal to increase corporate taxes, saying it would provide the province with a “stable, thoughtful” economic plan.

Notley was responding to a question about whether the UCP was a safer economic choice for Albertans in Monday’s provincial election.

She says stability and predictability are two of the most important aspects of a strong economy.

Notley, who was also speaking to reporters in Calgary, called Smith’s leadership neither stable nor predictable.

In addition, she says Smith’s sovereignty act has hurt investor confidence.

Notley adds that a recent report from the ethics commissioner showing Smith broke conflict-of-interest rules doesn’t help matters.

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“That’s the foundation of economic growth,” she said Wednesday. “I am also, however, very proud of the economic plan that we have rolled out.

“We have a plan to take Alberta from having the lowest corporate taxes in the country to having the lowest corporate taxes in the country. By doing that, we will have the resources necessary to invest in other things that investors are telling us they need to see.”

She said that includes incentives for emerging economic sectors, a cut to the small business tax and more investment in Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.