The Alberta government raised taxes for the first time in decades to avoid sending the province into a financial tailspin, Finance Minister Robin Campbell told Edmonton AM host Mark Connolly.
“In talking to economists across Canada, they made it very clear that to cut too deep would push the province into recession,” he said Friday.
The provincial budget inched up the tax rate on incomes for the first time in more than 25 years. It also raised taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and gas.
And for the first time in seven years, Albertans will pay a health levy.
While the province cut healthcare spending for the first time in 20 years, Campbell insisted the cuts will not affect front line workers.
