The PC government has decided to whittle away further at the Alberta Advantage by eliminating Natural Gas Rebates.  These Rebates were a benefit to all Albertans and let them enjoy the strength of our oil and gas sector through royalties.  Eliminating them is symbolic of Premier Stelmach’s misguided approach to economic management.
 
Wildrose Alliance Party leader Paul Hinman says the rebate was a dividend paid from Alberta's economic strength as a Province and now, through his bungling, Premier Stelmach has taken it away. "Eliminating natural gas rebates has the greatest impact on those who can afford it the least," Hinman notes, adding that "Albertans have received $2 billion in rebates over the past 6 years, the same amount the PC’s are putting into their hot air boondoggle of carbon capture.  In effect, they are taking away from Albertans to spend it on green dreams."

The Wildrose Alliance believes the Natural Gas Rebate program should stay in place.  It provides a dividend to those who need it the most and it comes from industry when they can afford it.  Thanks to the move, Albertans will face higher utility bills when gas prices recover, which will probably be at their traditionally highest cost period, next winter.  This will hurt seniors on fixed incomes and farmers in particular.   
 
"This is especially galling since the PC Government just gave $40 million in bonuses to public sector employees on top of the 30% pay hike they gave themselves just last year," Hinman says.  "They are taking dollars from the little guy and giving them to themselves.   
 
"The PC’s have thrown out the bone of perhaps bringing the program back, but if that's their plan then why eliminate it in the first place? We all know the chances of them bringing this back are slim to none." Hinman says this inconsistency is symbolic of their record as a government: "the only stability is instability."
 
From an environmental perspective, natural gas is a clean burning fuel whose use should be encouraged.  It is cleaner than several other energy options and Alberta has an abundant supply.  "Albertans should benefit from this endowment," Hinman says.  "Instead, the PC government is taking that Alberta Advantage away."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Paul Hinman
Wildrose Alliance leader
Phone: 403 393-2003

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